Betty’s POV
The morning my grounding ended, I didn’t want to raise any red flags that might have my dad second-guessing his decision to finally let me go back to my routine. Just before leaving, I checked my bag one last time, grabbing my phone charger and water bottle, the familiar weight of my cheer sneakers tucked carefully in my gym bag. I hadn’t worn them since I was grounded, and it felt good to have them in hand again.
When I reached campus, the first thing I did was look around for my teammates, already feeling the thrill of practice building inside me. As I walked toward the gym, the familiar sounds of laughter and shouts drifted toward me, filling me with a strange mix of nostalgia and nervousness. I really missed this.
But when I reached the open doorway and stepped inside, I froze. Unseen team was in a tight formation on the mats, running drills with a focus and sharpness I hadn’t seen in weeks. And at the front of the group, counting off and timing each movement, was… Stacey.
I swallowed hard, catching my breath. The scene made me feel like an outsider, like I was watching something from behind glass. Stacey was shouting commands, pointing out corrections, encouraging the team in a way that seemed… natural. She didn’t have her usual haughty attitude; she was confident, even supportive.
Sasha spotted me first, her eyes widening as she broke formation with a huge smile. “Betty!” She bounded over and threw her arms around me. The others quickly followed, their voices filling the gym with cheers and laughter.
“You’re back!Finally! We’ve been waiting.”
“I missed you guys so much,” I hugged Sasha, Lucy, and Jade in turn, my heart swelling with gratitude at the warmth in their smiles. “I can’t believe you kept things going so well.”
Carlos gave a nod over his shoulder toward Stacey. “Well, Stacey took over. She surprised us, actually. But she really did keep us on track.”
I glanced over at Stacey, who was still standing at the front, watching our reunion with crossed arms. Her expression was unreadable, but something in her gaze held an edge of amusement.
I forced a smile as I met her eyes. “Didn’t expect to see you leading drills,.”
Stacey shrugged, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Someone had to keep this group in shape while you were off… on leave.” Her tone was even, almost too casual, and I couldn’t tell if she was annoyed or just indifferent.
“Thanks, I guess,. Part of me wanted to keep things polite, but I couldn’t help feeling like there was something I was missing. “I mean it, though. Thanks for keeping things together.”
Stacey smirked, giving a small shrug. “It’s not for you, Betty. I just didn’t want to be embarrassed at nationals.” She walked past me, but then paused, lowering her voice so only I could hear. “Also, you might want to keep an eye on Ivy Crestwell. She’s been hanging around, watching practice. Word is, she wants to knock you down a few pegs.”
Ivy Crestwell, the captain of the Golden Eagles, was practically a cheer legend—confident, competitive, and known for her ruthless dedication. The Golden Eagles were everything we weren’t: polished, elite, respected. And Ivy was their star, the kind of person who would never give us a second glance unless… she felt threatened.
“Thanks for the heads-up,” Stacey nodded slightly, her face unreadable, before walking toward the locker room without another word.
I turned back to my teammates, who were all watching me expectantly. Whatever Stacey’s motives were, I couldn’t deny the change in the team. They’d improved, their moves sharper, their formations tighter, and the energy in the room was stronger than ever.
“Alright, let’s get to work.,We’ve got nationals to win.”