Wanting You (Book 1)

The Cheerleaders

Astrid's POV

The bulletin was posted and a wave of students, mainly senior girls, gathered, pushed and shoved their way through to have a look. Each face filled with disappointment and paved with grimace when they notice the names of the two new cheerleaders.

Keri screamed with happiness and leaped into my arms with a tight squeeze, almost taking all the air out of my lungs.

"We did it!" she almost shouted.

"We?" I asked. Fixing my glasses better on my face, I moved towards the notice board. Sure enough, Keri Lee and Astrid Beltown were written down as the new cheerleaders.

I was shell-shock. Too surprised to even believe what I was seeing. And as I looked on, still dumbfounded, Annalise, Trisha and Stormi walked in. The crowd parted for them and Annalise took the center of the room.

Silence and every pair of eyes followed.

"Your two new varsity cheerleaders. Keri Lee and Astrid Beltown," she announced and indicated for Keri and I to take the respective places next to Trisha and Stormi.

As we did, Annalise applauded and the others followed suit.

"You're to meet me in the changing rooms in five minutes," she instructed Keri and I. She flipped her hair and was off. Stormi and Trisha followed alongside her.

~

"You're a cheerleader? Keri I can understand but you?" Denise Stoneridge said from the crowd. She made a beeline to Keri and I.

"And you of all people should know that Annalise's decision is final. Why not play the bully you are and tell her she was wrong," Keri said back, matching her tone and threatening posture.

"I know better," she simply responded afterwards right before walking away to whatever hell-hole she crawled out of.

Denise Stoneridge was a copycat of Annalise. She had even dyed her hair in the ginger color of that of Annalise's then she came up with a sad lie that she was of Irish descent and was ready to embrace the natural color of her hair.

~

"Keri, this must be a joke.. or a mistake even," I told my best friend when we were heading in the direction of the ladies' locker rooms, "Annalise hates me. Why on earth would she pick me to be one of her varsity cheerleaders? Come on, you yourself have to admit that's crazy, right?"

"No. You were good at the auditions. Even better than I was. Take the win, Astrid," Keri said and her ecstatic mood only flared when we arrived and were immediately handed our cheer uniforms. Keri rushed to put hers on and did umpteenth poses in the body length mirror.

I, on the other hand, was hesitant but when Annalise arrived, I got out of my casual clothes and put the uniform on. Keri guided me to the mirror.

I gasped at my reflection. The top exposed my cleavage and the skirt exposed the roundness of my bum.

Annalise insisted on me removing my glasses and adjusting my hair into a better style. With Keri's help, I did exactly that. Then we fell in the line up with the other cheerleaders who filed into the room afterwards.

The squad was a team of Nineteen members. Annalise made twenty. Eight were male and twelve were females. They had won every competition they've ever competed in and the school rallied behind then on full effect.

"There's a football game being held next Friday. New comers! You two are nailed this routine without any mistakes. Am I clear?" Annalise sharply asked. I gulped and answered as if there were sawdust in my throat.

"Yes, Annalise."

"Good. Practice is after school!" she informed and we dispersed like the obedient children we were.

"Still thinking this is too unreal?" Keri asked as we headed to class.

"Yes," I answered. My guard was up because something was up with this.. with everything about this. She could have picked anyone. Tons of the girls looked better than I did and I was sure someone stood out at the auditions too. Annalise wasn't having me fooled.

~

After classes that day, I met with Keri in the hallway and we headed to the cheerleaders section of the gymnasium. We fell in with the others and awaited Annalise's arrival and instructions.

After several stretches and warm ups, Annalise arrived. Keri and I looked on at the routine and almost too easily, Keri captured the whole thing. By the next round, she was flawless with the others but I was already having a hard time. I was off beat, out of synced and sloppy. And as if that wasn't enough, I tripped over my shoelaces at the end of round three.

"My grandmother can move better than you," Stormi said in a huff. Everyone chuckled except Keri and Annalise who looked like she was about to scream at me in the presence of everyone else.

"Practice is over!" Annalise called after the fourth round and realized I was still a hot mess, "You may leave. Except for you Astrid. Stay right where you are. Keri, you can be her moral support."

"I wasn't planning on leaving her behind," Keri answered and stood next to me. Trisha and Stormi stood next to Annalise and she directed Keri and I closer to the body length mirrors on the walls in front of us.

The music started.

"Don't do anything. I want you to listen to the music," Annalise said.

I listened. I felt.

"Now, watch me and listen," Annalise said.

I watched. I listened.

Annalise's choreography routine was nothing short of amazing. She was great at the stunts and formation. She had to be.

"Your turn," she said again and I took the place next to her. Together, I followed and mirrored her to the best of my abilities. She didn't stop until I nailed the first part of it. Keri, Trisha and Stormi stepped in for the second part and I was able to nail that too.

"Much better," Annalise said. We stopped, caught our breaths and wrapped things up. Trisha and Stormi left ahead of Annalise and I found myself approaching her as she towel-off sweat.

"Hey, can I ask you something that's been playing on my mind since I saw my name on the notice board?" I questioned.

"You want to know why I've picked you, huh?" she asked without making eye contact.

"Yes, I do. You hate me, you think I'm a loser with a passion only for the books I usually carry so why did you pick me?"

"Make no mistake, you are all of those things but when it comes to this squad..my squad, I have an eye for who is the best and who isn't. And at this moment, you're one of the best. Hence, you're here."

" Thank you. I completely understand."

"Good. Glad we have an understanding. I would also need you to understand that cheering is very much a privilege you're to take seriously. You and I aren't friends and we're never going to be so I'm not going to be lenient when it comes to that. One wrong move, you and her are out!" Annalise finished. She snatched up her bsg and walked out of the gym, leaving Keri and I speechless after her.

~

It dawned on me that I had to get to the ice-cream parlor for the interview Keri managed to get me with the owner. Practice had already taken up most of the afternoon and I was wondering if I would make it in time.

"Relax," Keri said as she drove down Woodpark Road onto Fiona Street and pulled into the parking lot to the Ice-cream parlor.

"We're here," she stated the obvious. We exited the vehicle and entered. The manager was already waiting, drumming her pen on the counter in front of her. When I approached and introduced myself, she looked up at the clock.

"Right on time which means you're late. Sunshine, my cashier, would teach you the ropes. I have an important meeting," she said and left.

The cashier arched an eyebrow and bombarded me with instructions and expectations. She then handed me an apron and positioned me at the tubs.

The doors opened and in walked a customer.

"Lovely, your first customer," Sunshine said. I looked up and locked eyes with Trent Ambrose.