I was trying to focus, trying to shake off the awkward tension still lingering between me and Marcus. He’d caught me, insulted me, and then walked away as if nothing had happened. Typical Marcus.
I kept my distance, grabbing the book I needed and pretending he wasn’t there, but I could feel the weight of it all pressing down on me. My mind was spinning, replaying the way his arms had felt around me — strong, steady. I hated that I’d even noticed. He was still the same Marcus, arrogant and dismissive. This moment hadn’t changed anything.
I just wanted to get through this project. But as I turned back toward the shelves, something caught my eye. Across the room, standing in the shadow of one of the taller shelves, was Stacey.
She was glaring at me.
My breath hitched, and for a split second, I wondered how long she had been there. How much she had seen.
Stacey’s eyes were cold, her gaze flicking from me to Marcus with something darker than her usual smugness. There was no smile, no condescending remark. Just a stare. She had seen everything.
Marcus glanced at me, clearly annoyed by my silence. “Let’s finish this thing,” he muttered before heading toward the checkout desk.
***
I barely had time to process it all before Stacey pounced later that evening. I was heading to my room when she intercepted me in the hallway, her arms crossed and that sickeningly sweet smile on her face.
“Guess what?” she said, her tone light but her eyes sharp. “There’s another round of auditions for the cheerleading squad tomorrow.”
I frowned. “What does that have to do with me?”
Her smile widened. “You should try out. You were a cheerleader once, right? You’ve been desperate to fit in around here. Maybe this is your chance.”
I didn’t trust her. I could feel the trap behind her words, but I couldn’t deny that something in me wanted to prove myself.
“If you make the cut,” she continued, leaning in slightly, her voice a whisper, “I’ll personally teach you the routine. Wouldn’t that be fun, sis?”
I forced a smile, even though my stomach churned with nerves. “Fine. I’ll give it a shot, but I’ll use my own clothes.”
Stacey’s grin was practically dripping with smugness as she nodded. “Great. See you there.”
***
The next day, I stood outside the gym, nerves twisting inside me like a knot. Inside, I could hear the music, the familiar sounds of cheerleaders warming up, laughing, chatting. My heart pounded in my chest. This was my chance to redeem myself, to restart everything.
I stepped inside, and immediately my eyes caught Marcus lounging by the bleachers with his friends. He wasn’t even looking my way, but just knowing he was there made me feel… something. Annoyance, anxiety — maybe a little of both. I quickly shook it off. I had bigger things to focus on.
Stacey spotted me and waved, her smile sharp. “Ready to show us what you’ve got?”
I nodded, though my heart was racing. The music started, and I took a deep breath. It had been a long time since I’d performed, but as the beat pulsed through me, muscle memory kicked in. I moved to the rhythm, ignoring the whispers and laughter that started from the sidelines.
At first, they snickered, like they always did. I could hear Stacey’s friends giggling, whispering behind their hands. But I pushed through, focusing on the movements, on the way my body flowed with the music.
And then something changed. The laughter faded. I felt their eyes on me, but this time, they weren’t mocking. They were watching. Really watching.
I moved faster, hitting each beat with precision, and the room grew quiet. My body felt light, confident. For the first time in ages, I felt like I was in control, like I belonged.
As the music stopped, there was a beat of silence.
Then, applause.
Some of the cheerleaders clapped, impressed, even if they weren’t sure what to make of it. I looked around, my chest heaving with the effort of the routine, and felt a surge of pride. For once, I wasn’t the punchline of the joke.
But Stacey’s face was a different story. Her smile had twisted into something bitter, her eyes narrowing as she glared at the girls who dared to clap. The room tensed under her stare, and slowly, the applause died down.
“Well, that was cute,” Stacey said, her voice cutting through the air like a knife. “But we’re not done yet. Final round — switch-up time.”
My heart sank. “A switch-up?”
Stacey’s smirk grew. “A lift. You’re familiar with those, right?”
Panic shot through me. I hadn’t done a lift in years. “I don’t… I don’t do lifts.”
“Then you don’t make the squad,” Stacey replied, her voice flat. “Simple.”
I glanced around the room, my pulse racing. I didn’t have a choice. If I backed down now, it would be over. Everything I’d just done wouldn’t matter. I swallowed hard, forcing the fear down.
“Fine,” I said quietly. “I’ll do it.”
Stacey’s grin widened. “Perfect.”
The guys moved into position, getting ready to lift me. I stood there, my heart pounding so loudly I thought it might burst. As they hoisted me into the air, I focused on keeping my balance, my hands trembling slightly from the nerves. I could do this.
But just as I started to feel steady, I caught sight of Stacey winking at one of the guys.
Before I could process it, his grip loosened.
My body wobbled, and the world tilted. I flailed, panic surging through me as I felt myself falling. Everything blurred in that split second, and I braced for the impact with the hard gym floor.
But it didn’t come.
Instead, I crashed into something — or rather, someone — who caught me just before I hit the ground.
I opened my eyes, breathless, and found myself staring right into Marcus’s face. He was holding me tightly, his expression somewhere between annoyed and… something else.
“You like falling so much, huh?” he groaned, his arms still around me.