Caught

Chapter 4: Madison's New BFF

After we left the station, Luke pinched Seth by the ear. "Ouch!" he complained. "Dude, that's hurts!" "You were arrested for graffiti!" he hissed. "Hey, almost!" Seth whined. "Cut it out!" I rolled my eyes at their bickering. "Boys," I said calmly. "Stop yelling at each other."

After a couple of hours of screaming and yelling, I grabbed them by the ear then dragged them into my house. As soon as I released them, I pinched my forehead. "Haven't you idiots caused enough noise already?" I demanded.

Luke and Seth rubbed their ears from the pain then glared at each other. Seth mumbled something under his breath then left the house.

"Now that Seth is out of jail," I began. "Let's review our options for finding Kimberly." "Okay," Luke winced, still rubbing his ear. "You are going to infiltrate Madison's troop. While I have to do some underground research."

"Good," I said. Luke handed me a folded piece of pink paper. "That's her schedule," Luke said. "I'll send you the details about it later." He kissed me on the forehead then left me standing in my living room.

Unfolding the schedule, my eyes widened as I stared at the words. Monday- practice cheerleadering routine. Tuesday- go to Tricia's fabulous slumber party. Wednesday- go to Ashley's fabulous slumber party. Thurday- get a pedicure with some gal pals.

What is this? My obituary? Sighing, I folded the schedule and tucked it in my pocket. After I took a long hot shower, I put on my red shirt and boy shorts.

I took out the schedule from my jeans pocket then set it on the desk. The thought of smiling and wearing a skirt makes me want to pack my things and move to Antarctica.

But judging by how Kimberly's parents were desperate to hire us to find their malignant daughter, I will not fail them. So what if I have to wear a cheerleadering uniform? It is only for a matter a time before Kimberly shows up.

And besides, what's the worst that could happen? On a Monday morning, I showed up wearing a red and yellow cheerleadering uniform. My ombre ponytail was lustrous and stunning.

My skirt was a few inches longer than my white laced shoes. I clutched my pom-poms to my sides as I walked towards Luke. As soon as he saw me, he nearly dropped his textbooks. "Cole?" Luke breathed. "Why do you look...hot?"

"I'll take that as a compliment," I grumbled. "So, how did you find anything-" Luke was staring at my flawless legs. I snapped my fingers to get his attention.

"My eyes are up here!" I cried. Luke stopped staring at them then looked at me. "Did you find anything related to Kimberly?" I asked.

"Yeah," Luke said. "Before she disappeared, Kimberly went to the mall and bought a year supply of clothes, shoes, and purses."

"Why?" I asked. Luke shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea," he sighed. "But that rookie, Jason along with the other cops are searching for some information regarding-"

"Cole?" someone shrieked. I turned to see Madison staring at me in confusion. "Hey girlfriend!" I sang. Luke snickered at this. "You're going to try out for cheerleadering?" she asked. "Like, totally." I beamed. Please shut up, Cole.

"Okay," Madison said slowly. "Tryouts begin after school, are you in?" "Sure," I answered. "Go Lions, woo!" "Hey Luke," Madison greeted. "How's everything?" "Pretty weird," Luke answered.

The school rang for third period as kids grabbed their things and hurried to their classrooms. "Good luck," Luke wished. I kissed him on the lips then put my pom-poms into my locker.

As we reviewed lesson 20 in Physics, Madison tapped on my shoulder. "Hey-" I began. "I know you don't like cheerleadering," Madison interrupted. "And I know about you and Luke."

"What?" I asked. "I saw you kiss him," Madison continued. "And that makes me suspicious." "What do you-" I sighed. "I think you are up to something," Madison said, lowering her voice. "Is it about my lousy ex-friend, Kim?"

"No," I lied. "I just want to join some clubs." Madison looked at me for a moment then smiled. "Good," she said with a sigh. "I thought you and Luke were doing some lame detective work." I sniffed at her insult. Our detective work isn't lame.

"After cheerleadering tryout," Madison began. "Do you want to do some makeovers?" Do I have a choice? "Sure," I beamed. Madison smiled and resumed to texting with her friends while I only stared at Luke giving him a brief nod.

After school, I walked over to the gym. To my surprise, I wasn't nervous about showing what I am made of. Back in Michigan, I was a pretty awesome gymnast and dancer. So, I was pretty flexible and agile.

Just when I was about to enter the gym, a girl wearing a cheerleader uniform bursted out of the door with tears coming out of her eyes. It was like tenth grade all over again.

"Get out!" a shrill voice boomed. "And don't come back until you stop dancing like a pregnant squirrel!" Is it too late to move to Antarctica?

Sighing, I walked into the gym, where three girls were sitting poised on their chairs, grooming themselves. I seriously wanted to punch each of them in the face.

"Hello," I began. "My name is Nicole Porter." The girl with dark hair and brown eyes looked at her friends. "And I need a ice latte," she said in a bored expression. "Hello?" I repeated. Still, no response.

One of the girls were slurping on her latte. She had pale blond hair and blue eyes. She reminds me of a baby doll. "Hey Gorgons!" I screamed. The girls looked at me in surprise. "I have been waiting for you, lousy, spoiled, immature, pathetic freakshows to look at me!"

The girls stared at me for a moment. "Fine!" the brunette screamed. "Do your stupid routine!" "I can't believe she called us immature," the baby doll sniffed.

"Ready! Okay!" I did three somersaults and back flips. It became a blessing to me that I watched Bring It: All In. "Go Tigers!" I cheered. "Go Tigers! We are undefeated! We kick those sorry butts of those who deserved to be defeated!"

I ran to the walls and pressed my two feet against the surface. I did five flawless handsprings then ended the perf with a split. "Go Tigers!" The girls only stared at me. A smile appeared on the brunette's lips.

"You're in," she said. After the tryouts were over, Madison honked her horn on her red convertible. "Hey," she said. "I heard you got in." I nodded very eagerly. "Want to come hang?" "Sure," I answered, sitting in the backseat.

Meanwhile, Madison dragged me to the mall and we tried some clothes. To her, it was amazing, but to me, it was torture. One by one, Madison shoved some skirts at me and I tried them on.

"Cole," she squealed. "You look so pretty in those skirts!" I grimaced in the mirror. She tossed a couple of colored scarves, skirts, and shirts on the conveyor belt and looked at the cashier.

"Put them on my card," she insisted.