The First Cheerleader Meeting
887 Words
Chapter Ten
The First Cheerleader Meeting
Amira’s POV
I kept my head down as we walked. My clothes were dry now, but I still felt cold. My arms stayed folded across my chest, like I could hold myself together with them.
Lexi walked beside me without saying anything at first. I was grateful for that. My ears still burned from all the stares. The laughter still rang in my head.
“You okay?” she finally asked.
“No.”
My voice was low and tight. I didn’t even try to pretend.
Lexi nodded. “I thought so.”
We stopped near the science wing. I leaned against a locker, trying to stop my hands from shaking.
“She poured water on me like I didn’t matter,” I said, not looking at her. “Right in the hallway. In front of everyone.”
Lexi’s jaw clenched. “She’s getting detention. Coach found out. They’re not getting away with it.”
“Doesn’t fix it.”
“No. But it’s a start.”
I kept staring at the floor.
“Hey,” Lexi said gently, “there’s a cheerleader meeting after school. Just come sit with me. You don’t have to do anything. Just be there.”
“I don’t want to see Brielle again,” I muttered.
“She might not show,” Lexi said, even though we both knew she would. “Just come. It’ll help.”
“I want to go home.”
Lexi nudged my arm. “Promise me you’ll come?”
I didn’t answer right away. Then I nodded, just once.
Lexi smiled. “That’s all I ask.”
---
The day crawled after that. Every teacher spoke like their voice was underwater. I barely took any notes. My head felt too full.
I kept thinking about this morning. The water. The feeling of it soaking through my clothes. The people laughing and staring. How Peyton had been there… and walked away.
By the last class, I just wanted to disappear. But I’d made a promise.
The bell rang.
Lexi waited by the door. “Let’s go?”
I nodded and followed.
---
The cheerleader meeting was in a music room with a long mirror on one wall. Girls were already spread out—some stretching, some fixing their ponytails, others talking in small groups like they’d known each other forever.
I hovered near the doorway.
Lexi tugged my arm. “Back row. We’ll sit there.”
We found an empty spot and sat. I kept my eyes low. But it didn’t take long before I felt it.
Brielle.
She leaned casually against the opposite wall, acting like nothing had happened. Like this morning never happened. When our eyes met, she smiled. Not friendly. Not warm. Just a reminder.
Lexi noticed and muttered, “Ignore her.”
I nodded, even though my stomach was already turning.
A woman with a clipboard clapped her hands. “Alright ladies, settle down.”
The talking dropped off. Someone turned down the music.
“I’m Miss Dana,” she said. “Let’s go around real quick and do names.”
One by one, the girls spoke. Names. What grade they were in. What they liked about cheering.
“Lexi Townsend,” Lexi said when it was our turn. “Junior. Flyer.”
Then it was me.
I sat up a little. “Amira,” I said. “Just started.”
Miss Dana smiled. “What are you excited about?”
I hesitated. “Meeting people.”
That was all I could give.
Some girls nodded politely. Brielle didn’t react at all.
Miss Dana moved on. Talked about practice times. Uniform sizes. A pep rally coming up. My mind wandered.
I glanced toward the back window.
Outside, the baseball field.
A girl crouched low in catcher’s gear.
Peyton.
I blinked and looked away.
Lexi leaned in. “You’re staring again.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
I didn’t answer.
I remembered her turning away this morning. She had seen me. She had walked away.
Miss Dana clapped again. “Good meeting, girls! We’ll assign groups next time.”
Everyone started standing up. I grabbed my bag, ready to leave.
Brielle passed behind me. Her voice low, but sharp. “You dried up nice. Shame it won’t last.”
Lexi spun around. “Back off.”
“I didn’t say anything,” Brielle said.
Miss Dana raised her voice. “Girls, keep it respectful.”
Brielle smiled. “Of course.”
I stared at the floor again.
---
We left the building together. The hallways were quieter now, lockers slammed shut and teachers locking up their classrooms.
Lexi walked next to me. “You were brave today.”
“I don’t feel brave.”
“I know. But you didn’t let her win.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You showed up. That’s not nothing.”
We stepped outside. The sky was soft with late sunlight. I took a deep breath.
“She made me feel invisible.”
Lexi looked over at me. “You’re not invisible.”
I didn’t answer.
I turned one last time to glance at the baseball field.
Peyton was walking toward the dugout. She didn’t look our way.
And I didn’t know how to feel about that.
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