Last 219 Days on Highschool

Chapter 15: The Furious GF

Bella stood after inserting her pointing and middle fingers in the holes attached on the red pompoms that binds it to hand of the user, and avoid from falling off.

“Go Bella! You can do it,” I cheered her with a bright smile. There is no way I can let my doubt and nervousness be displayed unto her or she’ll get the same feeling too, if it happens.

As expected, her calmness remains unwavering. I should better asked her after this she has been a cheerleader before.

The music starts off and Bella did three rolls of perfectly straight hand tumbling to arrive at the center. Whoa! That is what I call a perfect landing when she stood straightly without shaking nor waving right after her third tumbling. It was a nice way to do an entrance.

Honestly, I can only do a single perfect tumbling. The second and third would knock tire my hand and make my head spin. Bella was indeed good at this.

She then clapped her hands at the beat; hop lightly, while furthering the distance between her legs as she raise both her arms in the air to form a V position. She nodded her head three times on the loud three beats of the song as we practiced while doing a playful smile.

Next, if she will doing what we practiced, she will be stepping one leg out to the right and do an open and close arm lock to make use of the pompom.

But no.

She stepped backward and did different hand routine. She smiled at me when she turned to the back to execute some moves.

Right. I get it now. She was doing a different set of routine so that I can stick on what we had practiced. Then, of course on those part where we were suppose to do together, I will just do impromptu moves on my own.

And now, while she was performing, I should take the chance to watched and adopt on some of her new moves that I can used to fill the supposedly duo part of the dance.

Basing on Ayesha’s expression, it shows that she was not happy on how things unfold. I bet she thought, my friend would succumb into pressure and that she will fail, thus, paining me as her dear friend. Wicked wench!

What does my friend have to do on me, huh?

Forgive me, Lord… but I would really call this girl a b***h.

After quite some time, Bella successfully finished her routine.

“Wow, that fella was real good at her performance. Hundred percent she’ll make it,” I heard the person sitting in front of us commented, which her friends agreed with. That’s Bella for you.

With many eyes watching, Ayesha couldn’t possibly turn her eyes to a potential performer.

“You are in!” Stephanie, the announcer, exclaimed. It was like only her was happy with the result. The rest of the panel of judges seated on the right and left of Van’s girlfriend was neither happy nor frustrated. Their showing neutral expression. It’s only Ayesha who was gritting her teeth.

“Hey, do you think that Bella girl had some unsettled score with the club’s vice president? Ayesha Cuts wasn’t looking happy at all,” an onlooker commented. Jeez! It was only me who think that way. Was it really her nature? To bluntly show what she feels and care not to mask it in the very least.

This is bad news…

Van’s girlfriend suddenly turned into an evil smirk and whispered something to the cheerleader on her side who later passed it to the announcer.

“Alright, as requested… let’s have Lalisa Bartolome in front. The floor is yours,” Stephanie stated. As expected, her wickedness would not allow me to adjust more on the abrupt changes and have me perform immediately.

She already had committed a grave error in her first move Plan A of eliminating a friend of mine in the list, which was deemed impossible with Bella’s great talent.

Breathing heavily, I calmed down my nerves. This time I have to show her, I mean them, what I got.

I met Bella midway. She raised her right hand with a palm open inviting me for a joint hand clap, which I gladly answered with mine. “I know, you can do it, Lalisa. Just do your best and don’t think of the people watching,” she reminded.

“I got this,” I replied. I should better heed her advice. I couldn’t afford to be suddenly feel intimidated in front just like that brief moment of freezing up I experienced when I stood up to divulge Van’s lies in front of the class. Not again. Not anymore. I shall not space out again.

“You’re Shamcey’s cousin’s right?” One of the panel of judges asked as I was making my way in front. I nodded in response.

“Then prove your worth,” she challenged. Holy freak! She was part of the so called ‘Angels’ that I should be very careful with. She obviously asked it on purpose to double the pressure on me, by adding an igniting force- expectations.

Right? I shall not let Shamcey’s name be tainted with my incompetency. Plus, I worked hard for this that my legs were beaten this morning.

I can do this.

The music starts and I started to do a static jog with my hand tied at my back. This is one of the traditional way to start a cheer. I just have to perfect simple things that I know of. Unlike Bella, my body was not as athletic to do stunts and all, but I guess my advantage would be my strict adherence with what was taught on me.

I can follow exactly what Shamcey taught us, and I can accurately tag it along with the beat of the music. This strict adherence on what ought to be done was perhaps one of the good thing I’ve learned  by being a stick to the rules, prim-and-proper saint.

Just as I was about to do the first routine, a familiar figurine appears from the backdoor shortcut alternative entrance of the gymnasium on the side.

It was Shamcey Prescott. She was breathing heavily as if she ran a marathon just to be here.