The Mystery Boy

Chapter 6

Next week

It's finally time for me to become a cheerleader. I was surprisingly looking forward to this. It wasn't such a big deal at my old school, but for some reason, I really wanted to become a cheerleader now. This is my last class before school is out for the day, and then I'm going to meet the rest of the cheerleading squad at the gym. When I was in class with Mr. Steiner, I just avoided even looking up towards him. Today was going to be the day that I told him that I couldn't help Ezekiel. I decided to do it today, so I just wanted to avoid him as much as possible. There's only 5 minutes left of class but everyone is just sitting around talking and waiting for school to be out.

Ding

Ally: hey caroline, you wanna meet with me and Marlon after school today?

Caroline: can't , I have to meet the cheerleaders after school remember

Ally: Oh yeah, I forgot. well goodluck. see you tomorrow

Caroline: Bye Ally!  see you tomorrow

I'm already at Mr. Steiner's classroom. I got here too quickly. But I need to get this over with. It's time to do what I think is best for myself. I don't want to be apart of this violence anymore. It's time to do this.

...

I can't open the freaking door!

Jeez, I know why I have to do this. I have to do it for myself. Ezekiel might need help, but I can't be around him anymore. He is always so angry at me and I barely know him. I didn't even do anything to make him mad. can you imagine what things will be like if he finds out that I'm the person who is helping him?

Okay I know what to do. I'll do a three count, then open the door. Then I'll just hurry up and open the door. Then I can get the hard part over with, and move forward with my day.

Okay, here I go.

3...

2...

"Oh Caroline, what are you-"

"AHHH!" I screamed

I turned around and saw Mr. Steiner standing behind me with a container and a cup of coffee. So he wasn't in the room the whole time? I was nervous to open a door with no one in it. Still, he scared the daylights out of me.

"My apologies Caroline, I didn't mean to startle you." he said

"Don't worry Mr. Steiner, you didn't do anything wrong" I said with a hand over my chest from being startled

"What were you doing in front of my classroom? Do you need something?"

"Yeah, umm...well" I stuttered

I couldn't get out what I needed to say. I knew what I wanted to say. I knew how to say it. But I couldn't say it. I was still scared of the outcome. But I know it has to be done.

"Go on Caroline, I'm listening"

You know what, I have to just say it. If I don't, then things won't get better, and I'll be stuck in a horrid situation I don't want to be in. I have to..

"Well, Mr. Steiner, its just that, I recently joined the cheerleading squad, and on top of that, I joined another club with some other people. These things are going to be taking up my time and I won't be able to help out anyone else with their work right now. I know you wanted me to help Ezekiel but I just don't have the time at the moment, and it would be unfair to him and to you if I don't put one hundred percent of my effort into helping him with his work. Right now I have multiple things to focus on and I just don't want to disappoint you or make you feel like you can't count on me."

Oh no

What will he think of me?

Will he be upset with me?

Will he think I'm unreliable?

Will he treat me differently ?

What is going to happen now?

"Wow, I'm so sorry Caroline I didn't know. had I known you had so much going on, I wouldn't have burdened you with this Ezekiel issue. Don't worry about it, thank you for letting me know." He said

Huh?

What?

He doesn't feel disappointed? I thought I was going to get more backlash for not wanting to help Ezekiel. I really wasn't expecting him to be so understanding about my situation. It was easier than I thought it was going to be.

"Um, thank you so much for understanding Mr. Steiner. I'm really sorry I couldn't help you more. I know how much you wanted to help him." I said feeling a bit sorry."

"Of course Caroline. Thank you for telling me your situation. Now unless you have more to tell me, I have some work to attend to."

" No, that was it Mr. Steiner, thank you again. Goodbye."

"See you around Caroline"

When Mr. Steiner bid me farewell, I waved bye to him, and then made my way to my gym. That really went better than expected. I didn't see him being so understanding, but he was. Now that I got that over with, I feel so relieved. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I can move forward without my mind so heavy. Now I can go meet the cheerleaders feeling a lot better.

Well, now I'm here. It's time to join the squad I guess. I'm kind of confused because it seems like everyone wanted me on the squad real bad. I wonder if I even have to try out to join. I guess we'll see when I meet everyone.

"Beth? Is anyone here?" I asked

My voice echoed. There was no one here. What the heck? Where is everyone? Didn't Beth tell me to meet her and everyone else here? I guess I can just wait until everyone else gets here.

Oh, I can just go sit on the bleachers for awhile. Wow, these look really-

"HEY COME BACK HERE!!"

Who is that? I picked up my head and saw two girls running and one of them had a bra in her hand. They were laughing and came running to the bleachers where I was sitting.

"HIDE US" One of the girls said laughing

They both crouched behind me, and the girl who was chasing them came closer to me...

Wait

Is that Beth?

"Uhh Beth?"

"GIve it back Veronica, before I tell Colt you cheated on him!" Beth yelled at the girl with the bra

"Okay okay fine. But Lacy told me to do it." The girl with the bra pointed to the other girl hiding behind me

"She's just mad because I took her panties and threw them into the trash last week" Beth said

"Umm can someo-" I tried

"Well this is payback. I'm taking your panties next time Beth" Lacy said

"I would like some-" I tried again

"Hurry up and put it on so we can get everyone else ready for the meeting" Veronica said

"Actually I'm here for the-" I tried for the last time

"Oh this is the girl who we were supposed to be meeting today." Beth explained

"Who is she?" Veronica said

"Yeah and what's her name. And can you tell us why she dresses like that?" Lacy said

Then both Veronica and Lacy moved and stood next to Beth as they eyed me up and down inspecting me. I started to feel self conscious and put my head down and my hands together in front of me.

"HEY BETH, WE'RE READY." a girl from the locker room yelled

What?

What does she mean we're ready?

"OKAY, THEN DO THE COUNT DOWN" Beth yelled back to the girl

Count down?

What count down?

"OKAY.3.....2....1"

"SURPRISE!!!"

Oh my goodness. There were people under the bleachers? What is all this. And are these streamers and confetti?

"Um. Beth what is this? What is going on?" I questioned

"Its a surprise welcoming party!" She said clapping her hands together

"Party for what?" I asked

"For you silly. Your apart of the squad now, so Ally thought we should throw you a party to welcome you to the squad."

Ally did this?

"Where is she?" I asked

After I said that, a pair of hands covered my eyes.

"Take a guess." Ally said from behind me

"Ally, this was your idea?"

"Sure was. It was a good one wasn't it?" Ally said

"Yes it was. Thank you so much." I said

After I said that, she removed her hands from my eyes and I turned around towards her and gave her a hug.

"Thank you Ally."

"No problem" she said hugging me back.

"Oh, and by the way, these two actually like you a lot. They just acted like they didn't know you so that you would be distracted." Ally said

"Who are you talking about?" I asked confused

"Veronica and Lacy. They actually like you a lot. They were really excited when they heard you were joining the squad."

 I turned to them and they started apologizing immediately.

"Yes she's right. I'm so sorry I acted that way" veronica said

"Yes me too. I'm sorry, I really wanted you to join us." Lacy said

"It's okay of course. Thank you for helping out with the party" I told them with a smile

"Okay okay, now that that's over, lets eat and introduce you to everyone shall we? Beth said

One hour later

It's been awhile since we started to hang out with one another, and everyone here is super nice. Beth introduced me to everyone that was here. Apparently the squad captain said it was okay if I didn't try out for the team since they knew I had already cheered at my old high school. It did make things easier for me, but I felt bad for other girls who have had to try out since I didn't have to.

"Hey Caroline, how come you never mentioned how you were rich?" Ally said out of nowhereHow did she find this out? I never told her that my family had a lot of money. Where did she hear this from?"Ally can you please keep your voice down. I don't want people to know that my family is well off." I said in a whisper"Why not? Everyone else already knows. Carrie is the one who told me you were rich." Carrie?  She was the team captain who I had met earlier. How did she find out? And why would she tell everyone about that? Well if she found out that I was a cheerleader in the past, I guess she had access to some of my other information as well. I hope people don't start making a big deal about this, I really don't want people to think that I'm a stuck up rich girl is selfish. I just wanted to be cordial with everyone. That's why I didn't tell anyone about my parents money.

"I guess there's nothing I can do about it now." I said quietly.

"Hey cheer up and have a good time while we're here okay."

"Okay, but I have to go soon. I'm getting picked up by my mother"

"Then let's enjoy every second of our time together!" Ally said with a smile on her face.

After that, I did as Ally said and tried to enjoy my time there as much as possible. I tried to not think about what had been told about my family's money. Hopefully it's not such a big deal in the future, but after the events of today, I couldn't be happier with what was going on in my life now. I didn't have to be scared for what Ezekiel might do to me anymore, I didn't have any more worries about telling Mr. Steiner that I couldn't help Ezekiel out anymore, I finally got on the squad, and tomorrow, I get to meet even more people and join the cooking club. Or whatever they call themselves. I was enjoying what life had given me in this new place. I'll try my hardest to make the best of it.