Our Human Mate

Chapter Three

>>-----------♥----------- *Beep* *Beep* *Beep*

My alarm is screaming exactly at 6:15 a.m., and I lightly nudge Sia to wake her up. I swear she could sleep through a tornado, whereas I, on the other hand, am a very light sleeper. Sia and I get up. She heads to her room to shower, and I take mine. We barely have enough time to grab breakfast and run out the door to make it to school on time. Today is the biggest football game of the season, and it is also school spirit day. Sia is peppy and excited as we make our way to school. She keeps talking about the big homecoming game tonight and how she cannot wait for me to see her new cheer routine, which she helped perfect. The first period is canceled for all students as we have a school pride event. On the way to the gymnasium, I stopped by my locker to drop my bookbag off, and as I turn around, Gabriella, the head cheerleader, nudges me into my locker. She only stops to turn back and cackle as she and her posse walk to the gym. I turn back to my locker, lower my head, and deeply breathe. This girl hates me, and she has hated me since 6th grade. I have never done anything to her that I am aware of. She is known around town and school as a bully, but no one will stand up to her. Sia is nice to her, well, because she has to be, as she is her cheer captain.

“Hey, pretty girl,” Sia says excitedly.

“Hi.” I sigh softly.

“What's wrong?” Sia asks.

“Nothing is wrong."

“Ari, what is it?” Sia asks again.

“Gabriella knocked me into my locker, but don’t worry about it, it's fine.”

“No, it’s not fine. Are you hurt?”

“Yes, I am fine,” I reply.

“I will talk to her, Ari; she shouldn’t treat you like that,” Sia says.

“No, please don’t; it will only worsen it.” I plead.

“Ari, you never stand up for yourself, so if you don’t, I will,” Sia says, annoyed.

“Sia, please don’t,” I beg.

Sia storms off towards the gym, and I quickly close my locker and follow her.

“Sia, stop,” I yell.

She doesn’t listen to me and nearly plows into our gym teacher, Mr. Fringe. His head turns to follow her direction, and as she approaches Gabriella, she slows her pace.

“Can I talk to you alone?” She asks.

“Sia, now really isn’t a good time. We have our performance in fifteen minutes; can it wait?” Gabriella replies.

“No, it cannot wait.” Sia deadpans.

Gabriella nods her head, ushering everyone else to leave.

“What's up?” she asks.

“What is your problem with Ari?” Sia asks.

“What do you mean?” She replies.

“You’re always picking on her,” Sia says.

“Honey, I am not picking on anyone. Did she say I did?” Gabriella asks.

“I saw you nudge her into her locker, Gabi,” Sia says bluntly.

Gabi crosses her arms and eyes Sia up and down.

“Look, Sia, if I did nudge her, it was by accident and not on purpose,” Gabi replies.

“That’s BS, Gabi, lay off Ari, and I mean it,” Sia says firmly.

“Oh, Sia, I am the captain of this squad, and I can have you removed,” Gabi replies.

Sia stumbles back slightly and looks over at me before replying. She takes a deep breath, and a long exhale escapes her lips.

“Gabi, she has been through a lot; please leave her alone, okay?” Sia says.

“Erm, I'll consider it,” Gabi replies.

“Now, go stretch before the performance,” Gabi says.

Sia walks back over to me and pulls me in for a hug. Our eyes meet when she pulls back, and a soft smile spreads across her face. She lightly rubbed my shoulder before heading over to start stretching. I see a few of our other friends sitting on the bleachers, so I approach them and sit down. Twenty minutes later, Ms. Fenton walks out and gives the most boring speech about school spirit and pride I have ever endured. The band performs, and then the cheerleaders perform their new routine, which will be debuted at tonight's homecoming game. I watch Sia being flipped and tossed like a sack in the air, and I occasionally find myself envious of her height. She is taller than most flyers, but her small frame makes her perfect for it. Sia is five feet six inches tall, and I am only five feet two inches tall. My background in gymnastics makes me perfect for cheerleading, but that is not my thing. I am deeply thinking about how I wish I were just a few inches taller when the bell rings and startles me out of my thoughts.

>>-----------♥-----------Oh, come on, Sia.