Who Loves Me?

I knew I'd dread another year at Meadows high school as I could hear the giggling of my fellow cheerleaders and the crude comments from the football team. It's now my junior year, yet I felt tired of the same routine, from school work, to cheer practice and to all the parties. "Tori!?" I hear my name being called as the bus stops at the school and I get off before I have to listen to the people I've surrounded myself with. I step off the bus and look at the school I've attended for two years, now going on my third. "Tori?" I see a hand come up and squeeze my cheek. I know it's Lucas, also known as the quarterback for our beloved Raven Meadows football team. "You seem down." "I know what will cheer you up." He tells me as everyone walks by us and I stare at his messy brown hair and sparkling blue eyes that are filled with happiness. I've never known a happier person alive than Lucas Wilibee. It was contagious as my frown lifts into a smile and his broadens. I feel his hand behind my ear before he pulls out an egg. "You've got egg-cellent hearing, don't you agree?" I can't help but laugh slightly at his corniness. "Now there's the Tori I know." He then links his arm through mine and leads me into the school. We part ways as he heads to the gym and I head to biology. I shake my head as he blows kisses at me before grabbing his chest, while pleading for me to send them back. I blow him one kiss and he catches it and holds it dearly to his chest. My mood is now lifted and I take a seat next to Melony, my second in command on the Ravens cheer squad and friend, on good days. "I can't stand this." "I wanted to have a spare class, not more school work." I try to hide my smile as Melony is known for excelling in fitness but her brain may lack any kind of intelligence. What most love about her though is her dedication as long as she likes what she's working on, which happens to only be her body and on any boy she desires. It wasn't a secret that she's a total flirt and yet she was one of the few girls on the team who is great at listening to all of our guy problems and gives pretty sound advice. I've yet to illicit such advice but she always tells me that she's ready for when the day comes. "Please copy down a second pare of notes for me." She pleads and I get out another piece of paper as she gets out her nail polish. A few guys look our way as the stench from the polish wafts towards them. "Painting your nails Melony?" Mr. Fetrow asks as he gives her a stern look. "We're here to learn about bacteria, especially with flu season coming." "Can't you take in at least some of this information?" "No sir, I can't." She smiles sweetly at him and he's about to say something, when the bell rings. We get up to leave and Mr. Fetrow tells Melony to stay behind. "I'll take care of this." She winks at me as I roll my eyes. I know whatever she's planning will only lead to detention as Mr. Fetrow is happily married, to a guy no less. If only I could have warned her. I shrug it off and head to the gym next. My stomach is already grumbling as I walk there. I wonder how badly phys ed will wear me down before cheer practice tonight. I try not to think about it as I've also got to think of our new cheer choreography before the next competition. I've got half of it down but have yet to put any of our big numbers in. "You think she's been popped yet?" I hear as none other than Jax Orlan and his friend Hilda walks by me. I'm surprised by her vulgar language as she tugs on Jax's black sweater. Does she speak that way about other women, just to get his attention? She pointedly looks at me and he shows no reaction as he looks ahead, except him twisting at the cigarette tucked behind his ear. I can't help but wonder if it's his addiction. Why am I curious though? I stop walking and turn back, to look at them. They're both styled in black clothing and I make note of how I think they'd be a cute couple, even if they didn't intentionally try to wear outfits that look like they're made for couples. I turn back around and see coach Wilson about to shut the doors as the bell rings. I pick up pace and slide right by him, with a smile on my face. "You almost didn't make it Wilson." My father smiles as he shuts the door. Everyone knows Mr. Wilson is my father but they don't understand his strict rules about my referring to him as coach when we're in school. He once told me it's because he wants his teaching to be taken seriously when we're at school. It doesn't exactly work as I usually slack a bit in his class, while putting my all into cheer leading. "We'll be doing a thorough warm up before we do some laps around the gym." "Must you work us this hard, on the first day?" I whine and a few people snicker as I speak up, while everyone else is silent and waits patiently for his orders on the bleachers. "Ms. Wilson!" "Mr. Wilson!" I say right back and see my fathers lips tug up a bit as he tries not to smile. "I have tryouts today and practice." I tell him and he shakes his head. "Then you'll need a good warm up." "Everyone, lets go!" He blows his whistle and everyone gets to work, while I slowly walk towards them, to stretch.