Practice was starting to come together.... slightly.
It was Coach Kerry's turn to sit in with the team, but as predicted she spent the entire time with her phone, either texting or making plans for her upcoming wedding. Now and again she'd give an enthusiastic clap or a thumbs up to the team. The team wasn't allowed to practice stands or stunts unless Coach Armstrong was there, mainly because he had this control over gravity so if anyone goes sprawling down, he can hopefully make the landing much softer. But next practice, next practice they'd be ready for it.
Peyton changed up the formation a little. To the front left was Lauren, front right was Sondra. They were both strong dancers, strong athletes, and flexible enough to pull off scorpions or heel stretches. They were working on Herkies and toe touches. They had rhythm, flair and if Lauren would remember to keep the thumb side of her fist towards the crowd, <Peyton zipped over to turn her pinkies in> they'd have 'it'. Mia, Mia was a little more challenging. Not Jeremy's level of challenging; Peyton glanced over as he knocked himself in the head performing a wild air guitar move. There was no air guitar move in the cheer, but hey! His thumbs were towards the crowd.
Mia had rhythm, but what Mia lacked was confidence. She could keep up with the dance steps, and once or twice Peyton even saw a smile cross her face. Peyton was constantly reminding people to smile. Yeah, cheering was a lot of hard work, but it was also fun.
"Smile! Let's see those teeth! The trick to cheering is to make it look like your having the time of your life...even if you are so nervous or scared you want to leave. Even if your muscles are screaming at you to leave them alone and all you want to do is collapse on the floor and nap. Even if your puppy ran out into the street and...." Jeremy's jaw dropped, his eyes wide and almost watery "came back absolutely fine!" The bright smile returned to his face and his eyes once again shined.
Peyton fell in sync in the front reversing the cheer to face them, throwing in some cheesy smiles, head nods, things that judges usually fell for. Jeremy of course followed suit and was now cheering backwards himself, but the walls in the gym were padded. He should be okay.
Mia she put in the front, in a "V" with Sondra and Lauren. Directly behind Mia was Etienne. He was super tall. Near 7 feet. Peyton never saw a cheer boy that was near 7 feet before, but Etienne was probably the hardest worker on the team. Even when he smiled - and he had a great smile - he looked so serious. Ironically as she thought of that, the "Why so serious?" line played from the Pink song blasting at the time. He needed to loosen up.
"Etienne! This is cheer squad, have fun with it! From now on, leave all your cares in your locker! They'll be there after practice. Promise!" She shot him a bright smile.
Behind Sondra and to the right was Ar. The two of them were on par with their dancing, and they both had enough confidence to strut it. Plus Peyton knew Sondra could hold her own if Ar made any comments, which surprisingly? He didn't. Maybe he actually liked cheer squad. He did seem to enjoy showing off. And sure, maybe he put a little too much finesse into his tumbling, but Sondra was no slouch either. And Sondra worked hard. She was on the field with Peyton two, three mornings a week, working on dance steps and handsprings. Ar, everything came natural to. Tumbling, dancing, and even the routines. She wondered how he'd fair with two person stunts.
On the other side of Etienne, behind Lauren was Wyatt. Wyatt was hit or miss. He had it, he could strut it, she'd seen it at karaoke. If he was on, he was on fire. Ironic, she thought, because he was behind Lauren, who could in fact literally be on fire. He could move, he was enthusiastic, he had fun with it. Sometimes. Sometimes it was like some invisible force walked into the gym and beat him with the emo stick. He crushed on Mia. It was painfully obvious at times, and other times it was like he was completely okay with things. And there was some weird tension with him and Etienne that Peyton just didn't get. In any case, he'd said so himself at the beach, and Peyton knew better than to pair him with Mia on that alone. Lauren was tough as nails, and Wyatt was strong as a box of rocks, so if anything, at least neither of them would get hurt when they started working on elevators and stands.
Jeremy she put in the center in the back, behind Etienne. This way if the rest of the squad was hitting a K Motion on five and Jeremy was up to the half T on eight, it looked more like it was planned.
Peyton clapped as the song ended.
"Way to go! You guys were great!" They were. Maybe not as great as the Jets, but then again, the Jets had been together since knee high to a grasshopper days. This squad had been together maybe a month. They were getting so much better, but what was the expression? Miles to go before I sleep?
She clapped a hand on Jeremy's shoulder to stop him from dancing and was mildly shocked. "Song's over Jer. Great practice."
And miles to go before I sleep.
Cheer Squad Practice (OPEN)
If cheerleading was easy, they'd call it football.
Re: Cheer Squad Practice (OPEN)
“Peyton, I’m sorry. I don’t want to do this.” Mia balked, her eyes wide.
“You so want to do this! And that’s one lap you owe me back at school.” Peyton teased with an impish look in her eyes. Mia was ALWAYS apologizing. I’m sorry I’m 30 seconds late, I’m sorry I took the last cherry ice pop, I’m sorry I missed a step, I’m sorry for saying I’m sorry too much... Finally, she’d told Mia she had to run one lap each time she apologized for anything, unless she physically crashed into someone, in which case, that was just common courtesy.
“No, really, I don’t!”
“Mia, listen. Do you want to look back to high school and remember how you were the shy mousy girl who always played it safe, or do you want to take this one moment, take just sixty seconds to do something fun and stupid and goofy that probably won’t end up with a call to 9-1-1?”
“I'm not mousy! Am I mousy? And... and shy is just fine.” Mia giggled, trying to tug down the more than midriff-exposing top. “I won’t make it through high school if I die of embarrassment.”
“It’s physically impossible to die from embarrassment. I think. Besides, no one knows who we are. It’s summer. And it's just sixty seconds. Come on.” Peyton patted her shoulder, and bent her knees.
“I never would have come if I would have known this.” Mia gave up trying to pull the uniform top down and just crossed her arms over her stomach nervously.
“Well, yeah. Like I was really going to say ‘hey Mia! I got an idea to get you more comfortable in front of a crowd! Let’s spend all morning learning a sixty-second routine so we can borrow a couple of uniforms, sneak onto the field and perform the dance portion at half time with the R.I.U. Rooster cheer squad.’ Even I wouldn’t show up if someone said that. You can do this." Peyton smiled confidently at her. "It's like I told you. Forget that anyone's here. Picture James, and only James. Or your friends back home. Imagine it's just us in the gym. Pretend that you're with your closest friends dancing and having a good time."
"Does that work?" Peyton thought for a moment. Back home, she was dancing with her friends having a good time. There was no pretending involved.
"Of course! If you want, focus on one thing, one person, one billboard out in the audience. Or stare out into space. Listen to the music and trust you know the steps, because you do know the steps. You'll do fine. I wouldn't put you in front of people if I didn't believe it. Trick is, you gotta believe it too."
"I'll try." Mia promised with a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
"Good. That's all I ask. Now hop on my back. I’ll zip us to the field. Just keep your eyes shut, because you might get dizzy.” Peyton knew she could handle the weight. She and Kayla would practice shoulder stands, so a piggyback ride was nothing.
“Has that happened before?” Mia asked, relenting and holding tight around Peyton’s neck.
“I dunno. Never tried running fast carrying anyone.”
“Peyton!” Shrieking quietly, Mia closed her eyes and buried her face in the back of Peyton's shoulder.
“No turning back! We’re already half way there!”
She stopped on the field, letting her and Mia stay a bit to the left of the cheer squad. R.I.U. was a division III school, but they still managed to draw a small crowd for the summer soccer games. A couple of hundred easy, mostly bored college students wishing they’d gone home rather than taken accelerated summer session classes. Peyton imagined that part of the draw was the fact that in the summer the cheer squad’s uniforms could likely double as swimwear, a fact that Mia didn’t seem so comfortable with as she tried once again to pull her impossibly short skirt further over her rear.
Truth be told, Peyton never cheered for a soccer game in her whole life. And she knew RIU did, mostly to give the cheer squad reason to practice over the summer. She’d become friendly with a couple of girls on the squad, meeting up at the mall once or twice and swapping stories. They didn’t mind having anyone sit in on practices, and although it wasn’t originally Peyton’s intention to drag Mia on the field, it’d be good for her to get over her shyness some.
The Rooster squad was short manned as it was, and had they noticed two extra girls on the field, no one seemed all that eager to do anything about it. Still, Peyton noticed a confused glance or two as she placed the small pom poms on her hips and waited for the music to start.
Up until that point, Mia looked like a deer in the headlights. She fidgeted her hands in front of her, scanning the small crowd and seemed to shrink on herself. For the first time, Peyton realized the very real possibility that her plan would totally backfire and Mia could be so mortified she’d never cheer again.
“S.O.S. please someone help me.
It's not healthy for me to feel this
Y.O.U. are making this hard?
I can't take it see it don't feel right.“
Mia stumbled over the first few steps, her blue eyes wide, but by the second line, Mia had her hands cocked on her swaying hips, and strutted her stuff as a grin spread across her face. They were off, one day wasn't really enough time to pull off anything but a decent attempt, but still Peyton was actually glad she left James a note to come to the game. She darted her eyes over the crowd to see if she could find him, but was temporarily distracted by some hot looking soccer player with a devilish smile watching the routine. Peyton put a little extra swagger in her stride, just to see if he’d notice, but before long the song came to an end.
“This time please someone come and rescue me
'cause you on my mind has got me losing it,
I'm lost you got me looking for the rest of me,
Got the best of me, so now I'm losing it. “
They held onto their heads and swayed to emote ‘losing it’ as the next part of the routine started up. Peyton laughed and grabbed Mia by the wrist, waving to the crowd one more time as they darted normal speed off the field.
“I knew you could do it!” Peyton laughed, hugging her squad mate. “I knew it!”
“I can't believe I just did that! I’m sorry I ever doubted you!” Mia replied, laughing and catching her breath, clamping a hand over her mouth, catching herself. Peyton laughed again, letting Mia go.
“I am so proud of you, Mia! But it doesn’t change the fact that you owe me one more lap!”
“You so want to do this! And that’s one lap you owe me back at school.” Peyton teased with an impish look in her eyes. Mia was ALWAYS apologizing. I’m sorry I’m 30 seconds late, I’m sorry I took the last cherry ice pop, I’m sorry I missed a step, I’m sorry for saying I’m sorry too much... Finally, she’d told Mia she had to run one lap each time she apologized for anything, unless she physically crashed into someone, in which case, that was just common courtesy.
“No, really, I don’t!”
“Mia, listen. Do you want to look back to high school and remember how you were the shy mousy girl who always played it safe, or do you want to take this one moment, take just sixty seconds to do something fun and stupid and goofy that probably won’t end up with a call to 9-1-1?”
“I'm not mousy! Am I mousy? And... and shy is just fine.” Mia giggled, trying to tug down the more than midriff-exposing top. “I won’t make it through high school if I die of embarrassment.”
“It’s physically impossible to die from embarrassment. I think. Besides, no one knows who we are. It’s summer. And it's just sixty seconds. Come on.” Peyton patted her shoulder, and bent her knees.
“I never would have come if I would have known this.” Mia gave up trying to pull the uniform top down and just crossed her arms over her stomach nervously.
“Well, yeah. Like I was really going to say ‘hey Mia! I got an idea to get you more comfortable in front of a crowd! Let’s spend all morning learning a sixty-second routine so we can borrow a couple of uniforms, sneak onto the field and perform the dance portion at half time with the R.I.U. Rooster cheer squad.’ Even I wouldn’t show up if someone said that. You can do this." Peyton smiled confidently at her. "It's like I told you. Forget that anyone's here. Picture James, and only James. Or your friends back home. Imagine it's just us in the gym. Pretend that you're with your closest friends dancing and having a good time."
"Does that work?" Peyton thought for a moment. Back home, she was dancing with her friends having a good time. There was no pretending involved.
"Of course! If you want, focus on one thing, one person, one billboard out in the audience. Or stare out into space. Listen to the music and trust you know the steps, because you do know the steps. You'll do fine. I wouldn't put you in front of people if I didn't believe it. Trick is, you gotta believe it too."
"I'll try." Mia promised with a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
"Good. That's all I ask. Now hop on my back. I’ll zip us to the field. Just keep your eyes shut, because you might get dizzy.” Peyton knew she could handle the weight. She and Kayla would practice shoulder stands, so a piggyback ride was nothing.
“Has that happened before?” Mia asked, relenting and holding tight around Peyton’s neck.
“I dunno. Never tried running fast carrying anyone.”
“Peyton!” Shrieking quietly, Mia closed her eyes and buried her face in the back of Peyton's shoulder.
“No turning back! We’re already half way there!”
She stopped on the field, letting her and Mia stay a bit to the left of the cheer squad. R.I.U. was a division III school, but they still managed to draw a small crowd for the summer soccer games. A couple of hundred easy, mostly bored college students wishing they’d gone home rather than taken accelerated summer session classes. Peyton imagined that part of the draw was the fact that in the summer the cheer squad’s uniforms could likely double as swimwear, a fact that Mia didn’t seem so comfortable with as she tried once again to pull her impossibly short skirt further over her rear.
Truth be told, Peyton never cheered for a soccer game in her whole life. And she knew RIU did, mostly to give the cheer squad reason to practice over the summer. She’d become friendly with a couple of girls on the squad, meeting up at the mall once or twice and swapping stories. They didn’t mind having anyone sit in on practices, and although it wasn’t originally Peyton’s intention to drag Mia on the field, it’d be good for her to get over her shyness some.
The Rooster squad was short manned as it was, and had they noticed two extra girls on the field, no one seemed all that eager to do anything about it. Still, Peyton noticed a confused glance or two as she placed the small pom poms on her hips and waited for the music to start.
Up until that point, Mia looked like a deer in the headlights. She fidgeted her hands in front of her, scanning the small crowd and seemed to shrink on herself. For the first time, Peyton realized the very real possibility that her plan would totally backfire and Mia could be so mortified she’d never cheer again.
“S.O.S. please someone help me.
It's not healthy for me to feel this
Y.O.U. are making this hard?
I can't take it see it don't feel right.“
Mia stumbled over the first few steps, her blue eyes wide, but by the second line, Mia had her hands cocked on her swaying hips, and strutted her stuff as a grin spread across her face. They were off, one day wasn't really enough time to pull off anything but a decent attempt, but still Peyton was actually glad she left James a note to come to the game. She darted her eyes over the crowd to see if she could find him, but was temporarily distracted by some hot looking soccer player with a devilish smile watching the routine. Peyton put a little extra swagger in her stride, just to see if he’d notice, but before long the song came to an end.
“This time please someone come and rescue me
'cause you on my mind has got me losing it,
I'm lost you got me looking for the rest of me,
Got the best of me, so now I'm losing it. “
They held onto their heads and swayed to emote ‘losing it’ as the next part of the routine started up. Peyton laughed and grabbed Mia by the wrist, waving to the crowd one more time as they darted normal speed off the field.
“I knew you could do it!” Peyton laughed, hugging her squad mate. “I knew it!”
“I can't believe I just did that! I’m sorry I ever doubted you!” Mia replied, laughing and catching her breath, clamping a hand over her mouth, catching herself. Peyton laughed again, letting Mia go.
“I am so proud of you, Mia! But it doesn’t change the fact that you owe me one more lap!”
If cheerleading was easy, they'd call it football.
Re: Cheer Squad Practice (OPEN)
The S.O.S. routine would have been fun to work on with the whole squad, but it was a Coach Armstrong practice, and while Kerry didn’t seem to notice anything past her cell phone, Coach Armstrong watched everything like a hawk. And he took notes. More than once Peyton was tempted to zip over and see what he was writing, but some how? He’d know.
Instead, they ran the gambit of the two routines they had down pat, and started on a third that began as a goofy dance she and Sondra made up one night after staying up way too late watching movies.
“Hey Hey are ya Ready? Are ya Ready
Get fired up, get fired up!
Mustangs! Are! Dynamite!
Don't mess with dynamite!
If you mess with us we go
Tick, tick, tick, tick,
Boom Dynamite
Boom Boom Dynamite”
Peyton motioned for Jeremy to back handspring while the rest of the squad stomped their feet and moved to the words they were calling out. Coach Armstrong raised an eyebrow from behind his glasses as fists connected with knees ( thumbs out, Lauren! Thumb side out! Skaters. ) then up shoulder height, to the back of the hip with an attitude glance as the music started back up, Taio Cruz’s Dynamite.
“I came to dance-dance-dance-dance
I hit the floor cause that’s my plans-plans-plans-plans”
The squad dropped into push ups except for Jeremy, who she gave the signal to to run another tumble pass. Ar threw in a clap in between each of his, which Peyton had to admit looked better, but it wasn’t part of the cheer... yet. Peyton made mental note to add pushups to the beginning of practice along with stretches.
“Stick with the rest of the team, Ar, please and thanks.” She reminded him.
“We gonna rock this club, we gonna go all night,
We gonna light it up like it’s dynamite...”
“Look at those smiles! Big and bright!” Ar had more of a smirk, but why ruin it? “ You guys are dynamite!” Peyton clapped. Etienne was right. It was bad poetry. “No, Jeremy. Not literally No one is exploding. Smoothie bottles are in the cooler, help yourselves! Great practice!”
Instead, they ran the gambit of the two routines they had down pat, and started on a third that began as a goofy dance she and Sondra made up one night after staying up way too late watching movies.
“Hey Hey are ya Ready? Are ya Ready
Get fired up, get fired up!
Mustangs! Are! Dynamite!
Don't mess with dynamite!
If you mess with us we go
Tick, tick, tick, tick,
Boom Dynamite
Boom Boom Dynamite”
Peyton motioned for Jeremy to back handspring while the rest of the squad stomped their feet and moved to the words they were calling out. Coach Armstrong raised an eyebrow from behind his glasses as fists connected with knees ( thumbs out, Lauren! Thumb side out! Skaters. ) then up shoulder height, to the back of the hip with an attitude glance as the music started back up, Taio Cruz’s Dynamite.
“I came to dance-dance-dance-dance
I hit the floor cause that’s my plans-plans-plans-plans”
The squad dropped into push ups except for Jeremy, who she gave the signal to to run another tumble pass. Ar threw in a clap in between each of his, which Peyton had to admit looked better, but it wasn’t part of the cheer... yet. Peyton made mental note to add pushups to the beginning of practice along with stretches.
“Stick with the rest of the team, Ar, please and thanks.” She reminded him.
“We gonna rock this club, we gonna go all night,
We gonna light it up like it’s dynamite...”
“Look at those smiles! Big and bright!” Ar had more of a smirk, but why ruin it? “ You guys are dynamite!” Peyton clapped. Etienne was right. It was bad poetry. “No, Jeremy. Not literally No one is exploding. Smoothie bottles are in the cooler, help yourselves! Great practice!”
If cheerleading was easy, they'd call it football.
Re: Cheer Squad Practice (OPEN)
Arthur Rawlings walked into the gym fashionably 20 minutes late with his I-have-arrived swagger. Peyton sat on the bleachers pretending not to notice the time, and barely looked up from her Wildcat notebook.
“Hiya, Ar. Appreciate the help.” Ar shrugged nonchalantly
“Aww, pretense. Cute. I figured I’d get singled out sooner or later. It’s part of your divide and conquer strategy.”
“Part of my...” Peyton shook her head. He was baiting her, she knew it. But she also knew the best way to not get your leg stuck in a bear trap was to carefully walk around it.. “Listen, have you ever seen two person stunting?”
“In more ways than one.” He replied with a coy smirk. She fought the urge to roll her eyes.
“I mean in relation to cheering. I cued up a demo for you on my laptop here.” She motioned to the notebook computer open on the steps beside her.
Ar glanced over at the screen and his eyes flashed red as he accessed the internet without ever touching the computer. Peyton tried not to take notice of that too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yX3w8MW_0Y
He watched the video of arguably two of the best All-Star stunters out there, either unfazed or unimpressed, chuckling as the video came to the end.
“Not bad. But who are you going to get to hold me up like that?” He asked, and this time Peyton had to roll her eyes.
“They’re advanced. Too advanced for anything a start up team could do, I’m not really holding out a lot of hope of us getting near that level, but you get the general gist of it.” He nodded slowly in response.
“Put me with Jeremy. He and I will make them look like...”
“Sondra. You’ll be working with Sondra.” She headed him off. “Jeremy doesn’t have the concentration for it, he’s not flexible enough for scorpions, and every time I tell him to lock his joints he tells me that he’d never do drugs. Sondra’s a perfectionist, and you...”
“Are perfection?” He interrupted.
“Are good.” She replied reluctantly. “Very good. “
“How good?” He asked with a grin, one that Peyton figured a cat would wear as it toyed with a mouse. It wasn't even compliment fishing. He was baiting her, again. This time, she was ready to step square in the trap, if only to save them both time.
“Good enough to make an All-Star team, which before you say it? Burns me. You have the potential to be as good at something that I’ve been working at since I was five years old, and it’s a bitter pill to swallow, but what makes it go down easier is knowing you wouldn’t last on the team, Ar. You’d show off, and sure enough it would make people say oooh and ahhh, but the coach would cut you like a hot knife cuts butter because you’re not a team player.”
“So that’s the angle. Go team go? All for one and one for all? Are you trying to be the wind beneath my wings?” He asked with a bemused smile.
"I'm asking if you think you and Sondra can pull something like this off."
"I know I can."
"Which isn't the question I asked."
"Well." His eyes flashed a second time as the video replayed somewhere behind his eyes. "Video girl hasn't had a decent meal since she was three. She's a good twenty pounds lighter than Sondra with a hell of a lot more gymnastics training. The weight's not as big a deal, but the training is. I can get her up there, but I can't force her not to kill herself. So no, I don't see much of that happening with Sondra. With Jeremy, on the other hand--"
He cut Peyton off before she could re-voice her protest, "Or with you, maybe it could. Where are you in all this, anyway? Didn't you say I'm potentially only as good as you are?"
"Technically? I didn't use the word 'only'. " She replied. "Sondra's a strong tumbler, and a perfectionist. I'm not worried about her picking up any routine, especially this one. She's a dancer. She knows how to move, and if she kills herself, it'll be from the thought of pairing up with you. If anything? You should be worried about her showing you up. Plus like I said, the video is advanced, so we'll be scaling it back. Together, the two of you will be impressive, and I can promise you spotlight time at every half-time show."
"Which isn't the question I asked." He shot back, looking smug. Peyton seethed, but took a deep breath and let it go.
"Where am I in this? I'm a cog helping the machine to run, and I'm secure enough to not need the spotlight to know I'm good."
"How good?" He toyed, yet again. "Secure enough to not need the spotlight, but too insecure to not prove it?"
She spun to face the computer, and moved the video to a pass she liked.
"Right here. One handed elevator back tuck flip, two foot reload into a flyover liberty. And if you drop me? I'll bury my foot so far up your backside that you'll choke on my Ked laces." Ar's eyes flashed red one more time as he accessed his own internal internet, and nodded.
Peyton tied her tee shirt into a side knot at the waist, rolling her eyes as Ar did the same. It wasn't a fashion statement, it was just safer to not have a loose tee if he was going to be lifting her at the waist.
"Ready?" She asked.
"All set." He quipped, giving two claps with a chuckle.
"Aww, mocking. Cute." She replied in her best Ar voice before saying a quick prayer and facing away from him. He brought his hands to her waist, and near exactly like the video, he lifted and caught her one handed. As she felt herself launch into the air, she tucked her knees up then extended until she felt Ar's hand steady under her sneaker. She held herself tight for the three count as Ar flipped her backwards and she felt the relief as his hand wrapped around her sneaker for the catch. It felt good to fly like that again, high up. Real cheering. Ar was too quick to bring her back down to Earth in a manner of speaking.
"Tell me." He asked, as he 'reloaded' - one of her feet in each of his hands. "What do you call those little shorts you wear under your skirt?" She rolled her eyes, knowing what was coming next.
"Spankies." She replied reluctantly, not bothering to explain it was the name of the manufacturer while he chuckled.
"Well, you forgot yours."
"Shut up, Ar." She snapped, getting a little more self-conscious than she'd have liked to admit.
"At least I can say with certainty you're a natural blonde." Peyton huffed, but shifted her weight slightly. She had dressed in a hurry, was it possible? She locked her joints for the next toss, and nonchalantly checked. He was bluffing. "Natural blonde!" He laughed.
Ar being Ar aside, he was disturbingly steady. Peyton had a good 10 lbs on the video girl easy herself, but Ar made her feel weightless as he held her in one hand fully extended over his head. One more tuck-flip and she bent her body at the waist, Ar catching her in a picture perfect cradle, almost gently. She held her one arm behind his neck as she caught her breath.
He smiled what looked like more of a genuine smile and she found herself smiling back. Was it possible that he wasn't all that bad? That maybe they had some sort of connection, that he wasn't... As if on cue, his smile changed and he dropped her unceremoniously on her rear on the hard gym floor. She sat in shock for a second, then fumed instantly when she heard his laughter.
"Dammit, Arthur Rawlings!" He chuckled again while taking a few steps away from her. He turned his backside toward her and glanced over his shoulder like Betty Grable, lips smacking.
"So far I can't taste laces." He chided.
"I... you..." she sputtered, but when he bent over double and looked back at her through his legs in another warped pin-up pose, grinning like a Cheshire cat, she couldn't help but laugh despite herself. Still sitting on the ground, she took off her right shoe and threw it at him, directly hitting her mark. Ar launched himself forward as she did, as if she'd knocked him off his feet with the impact. She had tears streaking down her face as he landed on his stomach and lay there.
"You're looking up my shorts to see if I wore my spankies aren't you?" he teased, causing her to dissolve into another fit of laughter.
"Everything all right in here?" Coach Armstrong's deep voice echoed throughout the gym. Peyton swallowed her laughter, and nodded. Ar remained face down on the ground.
"Yes, sir, just practicing." She replied, the coach looking warily between them.
"One-on-one time" Ar said with a lopsided grin, tossing a suggestive wink.
"Coach Campbell needs the gym soon, so clear out." He warned, glaring from behind his sunglasses one more time before leaving the gym. Peyton climbed to her feet and retrieved her other shoe before offering Ar a hand up. He took it, even though he didn't need it, and Peyton thought she might have caught a glimpse of another genuine smile from him.
"We finished?" He asked. She nodded in response, going back to the bleachers to collect her belongings.
"Hey Ar?" She called after him, saying something for only him to understand. "It's not always pretend."
"That'll come back to bite you. Right in the spankies." He warned, waving his index finger in the air, his back still to her as he walked out of the gym. Peyton sighed with another giggle as she fell back on the bleachers, slipping her foot into the still tied Ked.
"I'm sure it will, Ar. I'm sure it will."
“Hiya, Ar. Appreciate the help.” Ar shrugged nonchalantly
“Aww, pretense. Cute. I figured I’d get singled out sooner or later. It’s part of your divide and conquer strategy.”
“Part of my...” Peyton shook her head. He was baiting her, she knew it. But she also knew the best way to not get your leg stuck in a bear trap was to carefully walk around it.. “Listen, have you ever seen two person stunting?”
“In more ways than one.” He replied with a coy smirk. She fought the urge to roll her eyes.
“I mean in relation to cheering. I cued up a demo for you on my laptop here.” She motioned to the notebook computer open on the steps beside her.
Ar glanced over at the screen and his eyes flashed red as he accessed the internet without ever touching the computer. Peyton tried not to take notice of that too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yX3w8MW_0Y
He watched the video of arguably two of the best All-Star stunters out there, either unfazed or unimpressed, chuckling as the video came to the end.
“Not bad. But who are you going to get to hold me up like that?” He asked, and this time Peyton had to roll her eyes.
“They’re advanced. Too advanced for anything a start up team could do, I’m not really holding out a lot of hope of us getting near that level, but you get the general gist of it.” He nodded slowly in response.
“Put me with Jeremy. He and I will make them look like...”
“Sondra. You’ll be working with Sondra.” She headed him off. “Jeremy doesn’t have the concentration for it, he’s not flexible enough for scorpions, and every time I tell him to lock his joints he tells me that he’d never do drugs. Sondra’s a perfectionist, and you...”
“Are perfection?” He interrupted.
“Are good.” She replied reluctantly. “Very good. “
“How good?” He asked with a grin, one that Peyton figured a cat would wear as it toyed with a mouse. It wasn't even compliment fishing. He was baiting her, again. This time, she was ready to step square in the trap, if only to save them both time.
“Good enough to make an All-Star team, which before you say it? Burns me. You have the potential to be as good at something that I’ve been working at since I was five years old, and it’s a bitter pill to swallow, but what makes it go down easier is knowing you wouldn’t last on the team, Ar. You’d show off, and sure enough it would make people say oooh and ahhh, but the coach would cut you like a hot knife cuts butter because you’re not a team player.”
“So that’s the angle. Go team go? All for one and one for all? Are you trying to be the wind beneath my wings?” He asked with a bemused smile.
"I'm asking if you think you and Sondra can pull something like this off."
"I know I can."
"Which isn't the question I asked."
"Well." His eyes flashed a second time as the video replayed somewhere behind his eyes. "Video girl hasn't had a decent meal since she was three. She's a good twenty pounds lighter than Sondra with a hell of a lot more gymnastics training. The weight's not as big a deal, but the training is. I can get her up there, but I can't force her not to kill herself. So no, I don't see much of that happening with Sondra. With Jeremy, on the other hand--"
He cut Peyton off before she could re-voice her protest, "Or with you, maybe it could. Where are you in all this, anyway? Didn't you say I'm potentially only as good as you are?"
"Technically? I didn't use the word 'only'. " She replied. "Sondra's a strong tumbler, and a perfectionist. I'm not worried about her picking up any routine, especially this one. She's a dancer. She knows how to move, and if she kills herself, it'll be from the thought of pairing up with you. If anything? You should be worried about her showing you up. Plus like I said, the video is advanced, so we'll be scaling it back. Together, the two of you will be impressive, and I can promise you spotlight time at every half-time show."
"Which isn't the question I asked." He shot back, looking smug. Peyton seethed, but took a deep breath and let it go.
"Where am I in this? I'm a cog helping the machine to run, and I'm secure enough to not need the spotlight to know I'm good."
"How good?" He toyed, yet again. "Secure enough to not need the spotlight, but too insecure to not prove it?"
She spun to face the computer, and moved the video to a pass she liked.
"Right here. One handed elevator back tuck flip, two foot reload into a flyover liberty. And if you drop me? I'll bury my foot so far up your backside that you'll choke on my Ked laces." Ar's eyes flashed red one more time as he accessed his own internal internet, and nodded.
Peyton tied her tee shirt into a side knot at the waist, rolling her eyes as Ar did the same. It wasn't a fashion statement, it was just safer to not have a loose tee if he was going to be lifting her at the waist.
"Ready?" She asked.
"All set." He quipped, giving two claps with a chuckle.
"Aww, mocking. Cute." She replied in her best Ar voice before saying a quick prayer and facing away from him. He brought his hands to her waist, and near exactly like the video, he lifted and caught her one handed. As she felt herself launch into the air, she tucked her knees up then extended until she felt Ar's hand steady under her sneaker. She held herself tight for the three count as Ar flipped her backwards and she felt the relief as his hand wrapped around her sneaker for the catch. It felt good to fly like that again, high up. Real cheering. Ar was too quick to bring her back down to Earth in a manner of speaking.
"Tell me." He asked, as he 'reloaded' - one of her feet in each of his hands. "What do you call those little shorts you wear under your skirt?" She rolled her eyes, knowing what was coming next.
"Spankies." She replied reluctantly, not bothering to explain it was the name of the manufacturer while he chuckled.
"Well, you forgot yours."
"Shut up, Ar." She snapped, getting a little more self-conscious than she'd have liked to admit.
"At least I can say with certainty you're a natural blonde." Peyton huffed, but shifted her weight slightly. She had dressed in a hurry, was it possible? She locked her joints for the next toss, and nonchalantly checked. He was bluffing. "Natural blonde!" He laughed.
Ar being Ar aside, he was disturbingly steady. Peyton had a good 10 lbs on the video girl easy herself, but Ar made her feel weightless as he held her in one hand fully extended over his head. One more tuck-flip and she bent her body at the waist, Ar catching her in a picture perfect cradle, almost gently. She held her one arm behind his neck as she caught her breath.
He smiled what looked like more of a genuine smile and she found herself smiling back. Was it possible that he wasn't all that bad? That maybe they had some sort of connection, that he wasn't... As if on cue, his smile changed and he dropped her unceremoniously on her rear on the hard gym floor. She sat in shock for a second, then fumed instantly when she heard his laughter.
"Dammit, Arthur Rawlings!" He chuckled again while taking a few steps away from her. He turned his backside toward her and glanced over his shoulder like Betty Grable, lips smacking.
"So far I can't taste laces." He chided.
"I... you..." she sputtered, but when he bent over double and looked back at her through his legs in another warped pin-up pose, grinning like a Cheshire cat, she couldn't help but laugh despite herself. Still sitting on the ground, she took off her right shoe and threw it at him, directly hitting her mark. Ar launched himself forward as she did, as if she'd knocked him off his feet with the impact. She had tears streaking down her face as he landed on his stomach and lay there.
"You're looking up my shorts to see if I wore my spankies aren't you?" he teased, causing her to dissolve into another fit of laughter.
"Everything all right in here?" Coach Armstrong's deep voice echoed throughout the gym. Peyton swallowed her laughter, and nodded. Ar remained face down on the ground.
"Yes, sir, just practicing." She replied, the coach looking warily between them.
"One-on-one time" Ar said with a lopsided grin, tossing a suggestive wink.
"Coach Campbell needs the gym soon, so clear out." He warned, glaring from behind his sunglasses one more time before leaving the gym. Peyton climbed to her feet and retrieved her other shoe before offering Ar a hand up. He took it, even though he didn't need it, and Peyton thought she might have caught a glimpse of another genuine smile from him.
"We finished?" He asked. She nodded in response, going back to the bleachers to collect her belongings.
"Hey Ar?" She called after him, saying something for only him to understand. "It's not always pretend."
"That'll come back to bite you. Right in the spankies." He warned, waving his index finger in the air, his back still to her as he walked out of the gym. Peyton sighed with another giggle as she fell back on the bleachers, slipping her foot into the still tied Ked.
"I'm sure it will, Ar. I'm sure it will."
If cheerleading was easy, they'd call it football.
Re: Cheer Squad Practice (OPEN)
The cheer squad lined one side of the pool, everyone wearing swim trunks or swim suits to practice, with the exceptions of Jeremy and Etienne. Jeremy wore shorts and a Westbrook tee-shirt, because he wouldn't be going in the water anyway, not unless anyone wanted to be a Kentucky fried cheerleader. Etienne wasn't much of a swimmer himself, and Peyton didn't want to force anyone to do anything that they were uncomfortable with. Cheer squad was about having fun. She snickered thinking about getting Mia onto the Rooster field, but that was more being persuasive than forcing. Speaking of Mia, she crossed her arms nervously over her chest, while Wyatt made eyes at Lauren. Lauren in return gave him a chilled look warning him to pay attention in response.
“Focus Mustangs! Backsprings, back tucks, back walkovers and back flips.” She said clapping her hands with each. “This is the perfect place to learn them, because water gives a lot better than the hardwood gym floor.” She glared at Ar with the last statement, Ar blowing her an air-kiss in return. “We’re going to start off with tucks. Jeremy’s been practicing, so he’s going to demonstrate.” Jeremy pointed to himself, and Peyton nodded, waving him forward onto the bathmat she brought just for this occasion.
“Jer is going to crouch down like he’s sitting in a chair, then spring back, tucking his knees as close as he can to his chest for the flip, and land with his knees bent to absorb the shock. All in one, it looks like this.”
“Now?” Jeremy asked, positioning himself on the edge of the mat.
“Now.” Peyton replied.
“Back tuck?” He confirmed.
“Yes. A back tuck.”
“You bet!” He hollered. Peyton made a mental note to buy more Excedrin. Jeremy executed a perfect back tuck, extending his arms high after, his thumbs out.
“Great work!" She said, patting him on the back and flinching from the small shock. Between being close to him and the humidity in the pool area, she was glad she wore her hair back into a ponytail. Jeremy took up a perch on the bleachers near Etienne. Okay, remember, safety is key." She glanced over to where Coach Kerry was talking on her phone. "Why?"
"Because cheering has more accidents than any other sport.” Sondra answered for her, and Peyton beamed. Her roommate rocks.
"Exactly. So if you aren't comfortable back-tucking into the pool, you can start out in the water if you'd like. Ar first, then down the line.” Ar smiled less than modestly.
"I'm number one." He said, before mimicking Jeremy with a backtuck. Peyton rolled her eyes at him, but then smiled at Sondra who also nailed it. Mia, Peyton reminded her to spring off her toes, and not to cross the 90 degree mark before springing back. She tucked her knees to her chest and Peyton helped her momentum a little so Mia would make it around.
“Good! But a little quicker on tucking your knees, the force will help carry you over. Knees to your chest. Tuck and flip, with your feet together. Lauren!” She and Wyatt were whispering something to each other. “Feel like practicing?” Peyton asked, once she caught Lauren’s attention.
“Yeah… sorry!” Lauren apologized, back flipping into the pool.
“Nice! But we’re practicing back tucks, knees to your chest, like I just told Mia.”
“I thought you looked fine.” Wyatt drawled with a smile. Peyton sighed. If they couldn’t concentrate on anything being around each other, she couldn’t partner them up, and she was quickly running out of cheerleaders to partner Wyatt up with. There was always the back row with Jeremy.
“What do I do first?” Wyatt asked. Now I know why Becca was such a bitch . Peyton thought to herself taking a deep breath.
“Bend your knees here, facing away from the pool, bringing your hands out in front of you.. When you’re set, you’re going to spring off the balls of your feet, tuck your knees to your chest, and flip. If you mess up, the water will break your fall. Got it?”
“Got it.” He replied. Peyton took a quick second to wave to Matt who was stretching for some laps on the other end of the pool. She turned back around just in time to see Wyatt taking the Nestea plunge, hitting the water flat on his back. Peyton rubbed her temples.
Lots. More. Excedrin.
“Focus Mustangs! Backsprings, back tucks, back walkovers and back flips.” She said clapping her hands with each. “This is the perfect place to learn them, because water gives a lot better than the hardwood gym floor.” She glared at Ar with the last statement, Ar blowing her an air-kiss in return. “We’re going to start off with tucks. Jeremy’s been practicing, so he’s going to demonstrate.” Jeremy pointed to himself, and Peyton nodded, waving him forward onto the bathmat she brought just for this occasion.
“Jer is going to crouch down like he’s sitting in a chair, then spring back, tucking his knees as close as he can to his chest for the flip, and land with his knees bent to absorb the shock. All in one, it looks like this.”
“Now?” Jeremy asked, positioning himself on the edge of the mat.
“Now.” Peyton replied.
“Back tuck?” He confirmed.
“Yes. A back tuck.”
“You bet!” He hollered. Peyton made a mental note to buy more Excedrin. Jeremy executed a perfect back tuck, extending his arms high after, his thumbs out.
“Great work!" She said, patting him on the back and flinching from the small shock. Between being close to him and the humidity in the pool area, she was glad she wore her hair back into a ponytail. Jeremy took up a perch on the bleachers near Etienne. Okay, remember, safety is key." She glanced over to where Coach Kerry was talking on her phone. "Why?"
"Because cheering has more accidents than any other sport.” Sondra answered for her, and Peyton beamed. Her roommate rocks.
"Exactly. So if you aren't comfortable back-tucking into the pool, you can start out in the water if you'd like. Ar first, then down the line.” Ar smiled less than modestly.
"I'm number one." He said, before mimicking Jeremy with a backtuck. Peyton rolled her eyes at him, but then smiled at Sondra who also nailed it. Mia, Peyton reminded her to spring off her toes, and not to cross the 90 degree mark before springing back. She tucked her knees to her chest and Peyton helped her momentum a little so Mia would make it around.
“Good! But a little quicker on tucking your knees, the force will help carry you over. Knees to your chest. Tuck and flip, with your feet together. Lauren!” She and Wyatt were whispering something to each other. “Feel like practicing?” Peyton asked, once she caught Lauren’s attention.
“Yeah… sorry!” Lauren apologized, back flipping into the pool.
“Nice! But we’re practicing back tucks, knees to your chest, like I just told Mia.”
“I thought you looked fine.” Wyatt drawled with a smile. Peyton sighed. If they couldn’t concentrate on anything being around each other, she couldn’t partner them up, and she was quickly running out of cheerleaders to partner Wyatt up with. There was always the back row with Jeremy.
“What do I do first?” Wyatt asked. Now I know why Becca was such a bitch . Peyton thought to herself taking a deep breath.
“Bend your knees here, facing away from the pool, bringing your hands out in front of you.. When you’re set, you’re going to spring off the balls of your feet, tuck your knees to your chest, and flip. If you mess up, the water will break your fall. Got it?”
“Got it.” He replied. Peyton took a quick second to wave to Matt who was stretching for some laps on the other end of the pool. She turned back around just in time to see Wyatt taking the Nestea plunge, hitting the water flat on his back. Peyton rubbed her temples.
Lots. More. Excedrin.
If cheerleading was easy, they'd call it football.
Re: Cheer Squad Practice (OPEN)
“All right... let’s see what you got!” Peyton called out to Wyatt. Wyatt stood out on the field in his shorts and a tee, a giant red water balloon in his arms. They were the kind with the elastic band attached, kids would use them as punching bags, but they could hold a lot more water than a regular balloon. Peyton snickered as she watched. He’d told her a few times that he was practicing tosses and catches with large water balloons to simulate how he’d toss and catch cheerleaders, and she couldn’t wait to see it in action. She knew a cheerleader was nothing like a water balloon, but he was trying, and it was building his confidence some. His main concern was pretty much the same as hers, making sure no one gets hurt.
Outside seemed like the best bet. Coach Anderson wouldn’t be so keen on his gym floor getting wet with anything except sweat and tears, emphasis on the latter it seemed. So she bought a lot of balloons from the party store, and together they filled them up at the spigot and carried them onto the field. Wyatt gave the balloon an easy toss and caught it gently. Peyton shook her head.
“We’re cheerleaders, not China dolls. Let’s see some air!”
“I’m workin’ up to it, gimme a second.” Wyatt drawled. He tossed the balloon again, higher this time, taking a step back while watching it’s trajectory.
“Hi Wyatt.” Skyler Thompson and Mallory Gates, co-captains of the girl’s volleyball team called in sing-song voices at the same time. They were cutting across the field wearing cutoffs and bikini tops after taking a few volleyballs from the equipment shed for the beach. SPLAT went the water balloon. Peyton giggled.
“Cheerleader parts everywhere! “ She picked up a small piece of balloon from the ground, and held it to her chest. “Punchy!” She said dramatically. “Speak to me!” Wyatt blushed a deep shade of red that near matched the balloon.
“It ain’t funny Peyton.” He scowled. “What if that was a real girl?”
“Well, if it was Lauren, I’m betting right about now you’d be getting the tar beaten out of you. If it was me, you’d be getting hit by a shoe. If it were Mia, she’d be apologizing for hitting the ground and then I’d feel all bad making her run a lap. And if it was Sondra...”
“I get it, I get it.” He said, running a hand through his chestnut brown hair with a snicker. She shook her head.
“Point is, none of us would be splattered on the ground like this here balloon. We’re not all that fragile. And chances are, you’d be much more careful if you had a girl in your arms than some bit of latex filled with water. I don’t think you’d let anyone down, honest and swear I don’t, but I need you to believe it too. If you can’t, if you’re worried, seriously worried that you’re gonna drop someone, we have a big flag I can work with you on. Jeremy tried to kill me with it, but it’s an option.” Wyatt furrowed his brow as he thought for a moment.
“I’m not going to drop anyone.” He decided.
“I know.” She smiled. “I trust you. You just need to start trusting yourself. Still, If it’s all the same, I’m not gonna give you that chance until we have a spotter. So until then, you keep practicing with these balloons. “ She grabbed another one from the large trash pail they’d dragged onto the field. “Blue, Wildcat colors! I’m gonna call you Punchy 2.” She handed the large balloon carefully over to him, giving it a smack for emphasis.
“Punchy 2?” Wyatt laughed. It was good to see him smile, to hear him laugh. It seemed like he didn’t do that enough lately.
“I’m not all that creative with names.” She admitted with a smile and a shrug.
“Apparently.” He snickered back, giving the balloon a toss. This time, the balloon caught some decent hang time, and he managed to catch it gently enough not to break it.
“Amazing! Okay, one more. Really sell it!” Once again, Wyatt released the balloon into the air. As he watched it, Peyton lobbed a second filled balloon at him, hitting him directly in the abdomen. Both balloons hit the ground with a splat, spraying water as they did.
“You know I’m gonna get you back.... “ Wyatt warned with another smile, heading towards the bucket. Peyton already had a third balloon ready to lob in his direction.
“You can try Wyatt Wyborn...” She said, zipping close enough to where he was standing to directly hit him in the back. “But I’m quick!” Wyatt laughed and flinched as the cold water ran down his back.
“This isn’t over!” He called, but Peyton was already across the field, making moose ears at him with a laugh.
“It’s over!” She teased. “I’m already half way back to the dorms!”
Outside seemed like the best bet. Coach Anderson wouldn’t be so keen on his gym floor getting wet with anything except sweat and tears, emphasis on the latter it seemed. So she bought a lot of balloons from the party store, and together they filled them up at the spigot and carried them onto the field. Wyatt gave the balloon an easy toss and caught it gently. Peyton shook her head.
“We’re cheerleaders, not China dolls. Let’s see some air!”
“I’m workin’ up to it, gimme a second.” Wyatt drawled. He tossed the balloon again, higher this time, taking a step back while watching it’s trajectory.
“Hi Wyatt.” Skyler Thompson and Mallory Gates, co-captains of the girl’s volleyball team called in sing-song voices at the same time. They were cutting across the field wearing cutoffs and bikini tops after taking a few volleyballs from the equipment shed for the beach. SPLAT went the water balloon. Peyton giggled.
“Cheerleader parts everywhere! “ She picked up a small piece of balloon from the ground, and held it to her chest. “Punchy!” She said dramatically. “Speak to me!” Wyatt blushed a deep shade of red that near matched the balloon.
“It ain’t funny Peyton.” He scowled. “What if that was a real girl?”
“Well, if it was Lauren, I’m betting right about now you’d be getting the tar beaten out of you. If it was me, you’d be getting hit by a shoe. If it were Mia, she’d be apologizing for hitting the ground and then I’d feel all bad making her run a lap. And if it was Sondra...”
“I get it, I get it.” He said, running a hand through his chestnut brown hair with a snicker. She shook her head.
“Point is, none of us would be splattered on the ground like this here balloon. We’re not all that fragile. And chances are, you’d be much more careful if you had a girl in your arms than some bit of latex filled with water. I don’t think you’d let anyone down, honest and swear I don’t, but I need you to believe it too. If you can’t, if you’re worried, seriously worried that you’re gonna drop someone, we have a big flag I can work with you on. Jeremy tried to kill me with it, but it’s an option.” Wyatt furrowed his brow as he thought for a moment.
“I’m not going to drop anyone.” He decided.
“I know.” She smiled. “I trust you. You just need to start trusting yourself. Still, If it’s all the same, I’m not gonna give you that chance until we have a spotter. So until then, you keep practicing with these balloons. “ She grabbed another one from the large trash pail they’d dragged onto the field. “Blue, Wildcat colors! I’m gonna call you Punchy 2.” She handed the large balloon carefully over to him, giving it a smack for emphasis.
“Punchy 2?” Wyatt laughed. It was good to see him smile, to hear him laugh. It seemed like he didn’t do that enough lately.
“I’m not all that creative with names.” She admitted with a smile and a shrug.
“Apparently.” He snickered back, giving the balloon a toss. This time, the balloon caught some decent hang time, and he managed to catch it gently enough not to break it.
“Amazing! Okay, one more. Really sell it!” Once again, Wyatt released the balloon into the air. As he watched it, Peyton lobbed a second filled balloon at him, hitting him directly in the abdomen. Both balloons hit the ground with a splat, spraying water as they did.
“You know I’m gonna get you back.... “ Wyatt warned with another smile, heading towards the bucket. Peyton already had a third balloon ready to lob in his direction.
“You can try Wyatt Wyborn...” She said, zipping close enough to where he was standing to directly hit him in the back. “But I’m quick!” Wyatt laughed and flinched as the cold water ran down his back.
“This isn’t over!” He called, but Peyton was already across the field, making moose ears at him with a laugh.
“It’s over!” She teased. “I’m already half way back to the dorms!”
If cheerleading was easy, they'd call it football.
Re: Cheer Squad Practice (OPEN)
The weather was perfect. 80 degrees on the nose, and absolutely gorgeous for practicing out on the field. Football would start up soon and they’d have to share time, so the squad wanted to take full advantage of it while they could.
Peyton held her breath. The squad hit the ground with four pushups, claps in the middle, before dropping flat on their bellies. She swallowed hard and gave Jeremy the go sign. They’d been practicing outside of practice using big sacks to represent people but this was his first live run. Jeremy ran into a roundoff, then back handspringed over each of the cheerleaders one at a time. Obstacle flip-flops they called them back home. Peyton said a silent prayer that he wouldn’t hurt himself or anybody, and Coach Armstrong kept a close eye. Jeremy absolutely nailed it right down to the double back flip after crossing over Lauren.
As he passed Ar and Wyatt, each of them rolled in opposite directions to spring up on their hands, then push to their feet. The girl’s followed suit going into back walkovers just as Peyton stopped the music and clapped.
“That was so good, the girls' back home would be jealous!” It was half true. There were girls back home. Not much made them admit they were jealous. Even so - it was impressive, way more impressive than Peyton would have given them credit for just two months ago. She could have hugged them all, except maybe Ar, because he didn’t seem the huggable sort.
“We are gonna knock their socks off half time this homecoming.” She promised, calling them in to huddle up. “But starting next week, we’re gonna start learning some actual cheers for during the game. We’re gonna need them.” She beamed. “Now that we have an actual for real competitive team!” Sondra cheered for that and the others followed suit. “I’m even going to see if I can sweet talk Coach Armstrong into letting us tag along when the football team gets some practice time over there.” She smiled hopefully towards Coach Armstrong who in return gestured back with a slight nod of his head. The man is a stone. she reckoned. “This way, we can see what it’s like to perform when we’re not souped up.”
“I don’t soup down.” Ar reminded her, and Peyton rolled her eyes.
“Except for Ar.” She agreed. “Who doesn't soup down. And speaking of, I have to make a few more phone calls, see if I can find some where with high traffic so we can get the ball rolling on a car wash before the season starts. Ar had some ideas to update the boys uniform, and we can put that to a vote next week too. Any questions?” Lauren raised her hand.
“Are we going to be cheering on the sidelines, or in the end zone? I’ve seen both on television.” Peyton nodded, turning her attention to the field.
“Usually for safety reasons....” Something cold and wet hit her back, causing her to yelp. As she spun around, she saw Wyatt with a cat ate the canary grin gearing up to lob another water balloon. “You are so gonna regret that, Wyatt Wyborn!” She laughed. “You too, Lauren! Don’t think I don’t know an accomplice when I see one!” Wyatt lobbed the second small balloon. Peyton waited a second then zipped behind Lauren, her teammate getting hit square in the shoulder. Wyatt immediately clamped a hand over his mouth to most likely keep from laughing. Sondra had Peyton’s back, noticing Wyatt's backpack was filled with water balloons, Sondra took the opportunity to lob one at Wyatt’s back. Peyton wasn’t entirely sure who threw the one that nailed Mia, but soon there were colorful bits of balloon flying everywhere. Jeremy stood protectively in the end zone, out of harm’s way. Ar managed to beam Peyton square in the back of the head, and she returned the favor by nailing him square in the backside.
Coach Armstrong stood up from the bench and blew a few loud but short blasts from his whistle. Everyone momentarily ceased fire.
“Save it for the car wash! Practice is over. I want this field cleaned up.” He boomed, turning to head into the lockers. Four water balloons exploded onto his back, soaking his white tee-shirt. The coach stopped, cracked his neck audibly, then nonchalantly kept going, ignoring the laughter behind him.
Peyton held her breath. The squad hit the ground with four pushups, claps in the middle, before dropping flat on their bellies. She swallowed hard and gave Jeremy the go sign. They’d been practicing outside of practice using big sacks to represent people but this was his first live run. Jeremy ran into a roundoff, then back handspringed over each of the cheerleaders one at a time. Obstacle flip-flops they called them back home. Peyton said a silent prayer that he wouldn’t hurt himself or anybody, and Coach Armstrong kept a close eye. Jeremy absolutely nailed it right down to the double back flip after crossing over Lauren.
As he passed Ar and Wyatt, each of them rolled in opposite directions to spring up on their hands, then push to their feet. The girl’s followed suit going into back walkovers just as Peyton stopped the music and clapped.
“That was so good, the girls' back home would be jealous!” It was half true. There were girls back home. Not much made them admit they were jealous. Even so - it was impressive, way more impressive than Peyton would have given them credit for just two months ago. She could have hugged them all, except maybe Ar, because he didn’t seem the huggable sort.
“We are gonna knock their socks off half time this homecoming.” She promised, calling them in to huddle up. “But starting next week, we’re gonna start learning some actual cheers for during the game. We’re gonna need them.” She beamed. “Now that we have an actual for real competitive team!” Sondra cheered for that and the others followed suit. “I’m even going to see if I can sweet talk Coach Armstrong into letting us tag along when the football team gets some practice time over there.” She smiled hopefully towards Coach Armstrong who in return gestured back with a slight nod of his head. The man is a stone. she reckoned. “This way, we can see what it’s like to perform when we’re not souped up.”
“I don’t soup down.” Ar reminded her, and Peyton rolled her eyes.
“Except for Ar.” She agreed. “Who doesn't soup down. And speaking of, I have to make a few more phone calls, see if I can find some where with high traffic so we can get the ball rolling on a car wash before the season starts. Ar had some ideas to update the boys uniform, and we can put that to a vote next week too. Any questions?” Lauren raised her hand.
“Are we going to be cheering on the sidelines, or in the end zone? I’ve seen both on television.” Peyton nodded, turning her attention to the field.
“Usually for safety reasons....” Something cold and wet hit her back, causing her to yelp. As she spun around, she saw Wyatt with a cat ate the canary grin gearing up to lob another water balloon. “You are so gonna regret that, Wyatt Wyborn!” She laughed. “You too, Lauren! Don’t think I don’t know an accomplice when I see one!” Wyatt lobbed the second small balloon. Peyton waited a second then zipped behind Lauren, her teammate getting hit square in the shoulder. Wyatt immediately clamped a hand over his mouth to most likely keep from laughing. Sondra had Peyton’s back, noticing Wyatt's backpack was filled with water balloons, Sondra took the opportunity to lob one at Wyatt’s back. Peyton wasn’t entirely sure who threw the one that nailed Mia, but soon there were colorful bits of balloon flying everywhere. Jeremy stood protectively in the end zone, out of harm’s way. Ar managed to beam Peyton square in the back of the head, and she returned the favor by nailing him square in the backside.
Coach Armstrong stood up from the bench and blew a few loud but short blasts from his whistle. Everyone momentarily ceased fire.
“Save it for the car wash! Practice is over. I want this field cleaned up.” He boomed, turning to head into the lockers. Four water balloons exploded onto his back, soaking his white tee-shirt. The coach stopped, cracked his neck audibly, then nonchalantly kept going, ignoring the laughter behind him.
If cheerleading was easy, they'd call it football.
Re: Cheer Squad Practice (OPEN)
Lauren was an athlete, a competitor. Figure skating was one of the sports Peyton didn’t know much about. It was pretty to watch on TV, and when she was a kid, she got to go to see Tarzan and Lilo and Stitch on ice. Skaters were fluid dancers on ice, where cheering was more stomping and joint locking, but Lauren was making the transition just fine. She was a couple of inches shorter than Mia, still just a little tall for a flyer, but with Wyatt, Mia and Peyton, the squad could easily pull off at least one basket toss.
Out of all the girls on the squad, Lauren was probably the toughest. Maybe it was from taking a lot of falls while skating, or maybe part of it was from being a tank, but Denton Field would be power suppressed. It made things safer for the football players, but a little more dangerous for the cheer squad, so keeping it on the simpler side would be safer, while still looking good. They watched a few videos on Peyton’s laptop, step by step break downs of a toe touch basket toss. Eventually they could add in a layout as soon as Lauren got comfortable flying, and Wyatt and Mia got more comfortable with tossing.
“Are you sure this is the best way to learn?” Lauren asked from the diving board, giving it a few jumps to test its springiness.
“This is one of the worst ways to learn.” Peyton replied with a laugh. “Likely it’s gonna sting a bit even if you hit the water right.”
“You make it sound better and better.” Lauren kidded in return.
“Well, ideally you’d have a trampoline, and be hooked up with a training cable, and there would likely be a foam pit involved. But we don’t have any of those things. What we got is a pool of water, and a diving board. And it beats the alternative.”
“What’s the alternative?”
“We let Wyatt throw you and then hope for the best.” Lauren laughed at that.
“Wyatt would never drop me.” She defended.
“Yeah? You didn’t see what happened to Punchy the first.” Peyton said with a nod, as if that explained everything. Lauren snickered and shook her head. "And it’s not just Wyatt. It’ll be me and Mia, and I know I sure aren’t making any promises. You come flying back at me all wrong, super speed or not, I’m getting myself out of the way.” Peyton covered her head with her arm and pretended to duck out of the way, causing Lauren to laugh again.
“What? You won't have my back?” Lauren joked as she threw her hands out in a gesture of surprise.
“You have Wyatt.” Peyton grinned back. “Let him get your back. Or your foot and your elbow and whatever else comes crashing back down first. Now remember, you’ll be springing off the board here rather than having two people toss you into the air, so the momentum will be a little different. Hit the split jump, and then tuck into a pike for the landing. Be sure you keep your arms forward towards your feet. “ Peyton leaned to demonstrate. “If you don’t, you’re either gonna break both your arms, or make a couple of people on the ground real unhappy when you thump them on the head. And for Pete’s sake....”
“Thumbs out, I know I know.” Lauren smiled back, showing the outside of her thumbs for emphasis.
"One lap for each time you forget!"
She under-compensated a little on the first few jumps, so they looked a little more like lay-backs than toe touches. Then she overcompensated and was actually touching her toes, which was made the jump look more like a pike than a toe-touch, but eventually she got it - pulling three decent jumps in a row, and Peyton tossed her a towel.
“Not bad, not bad.” Peyton complimented. “I’m gonna ask Coach Armstrong if we can give it a go on the field, maybe drag out some mats just in case. Plus if he can sit in for it, he’s got the whole gravity control thing. Mostly I’m going to play it by ear. If we have to scrub it, we scrub it.”
“Why would we have to do that?” Lauren asked, taking a seat on the bench next to Peyton as she towel dried her hair.
“Just... in case anything... you know. Comes up.” Peyton didn’t care to mix words, but it wasn’t exactly an easy subject to broach.
“Comes up how?” Lauren asked warily.
“Just with you and Wyatt.” Peyton began. Lauren immediately rolled her eyes.
“I know back home you had a rule against cheerleaders dating other cheerleaders, but it’s not like that.” Lauren insisted.
“I know. I know. And usually when you hit the field, you’re all business, and I appreciate that, honest and truly I do, because I know it’s hard sometimes to go out and perform and not wear your heart on your sleeve. This is just one of those things, if your heart isn’t 100% in it, we don’t really *need* a basket toss.”
“My heart *is* in it Peyton.” Lauren softened a little. “There’s just a lot going on right now.”
“I get it, I get it.” Peyton nodded in return.
“You don’t get it,” Lauren replied, taking a deep breath. “I had to give up in-line skating, which I love, and I nearly lost Wyatt who I love. I don’t want to give up cheering, but I’m hanging on at school by the skin of my teeth and dumping every spare moment I can stand into studying. Finals are coming up, and I promised my parents I’d get my grades up. If I don’t, I may have to go back home to New Hampshire, and I don’t want to go home. But all that will still be there later. Right now? I’m focused on this. I can do this. I try to give practices 100% of my attention, because I know that mistakes not only look bad, they can get you hurt.” She paused and smirked a little before adding, “And cheerleading has more injuries than any other sport, right?” Peyton smiled at the last part, chuckling a little under her breath.
"If you trust you, I trust you.” She decided. “I didn’t know what was going on was all. It’s just - everyone has ‘stuff.’ you know? Here more than anywhere. Pressure from school and home and then all this added ‘stuff’ like having powers or being gray or waking up 50 years later or falling through floors. What you turn around and do with that 'stuff' - that’s what makes you who you are. Whatever you got going on? Just know you don’t have to hang onto it all yourself. You got Wyatt, but you also have me, and I’m sure anyone else on the squad. We’re a team, right? You can talk to us. Like this. Only you know, not always as sappy."
“There wasn’t a lot of teamwork with skating.” Lauren admitted. “Ice skating anyway. There was Kurt and other people to help, but out there on the ice, it was just you. I admit, it’s nice to find a sport that isn’t so much like that.”
“Right. And you don’t want to have to quit the sport because you end up splattered on the ground in a big old pool of water..”
“I have no idea what you're talking about, but I’m going to agree with it. Look, I promise, if my heart isn’t in it, if I don’t feel focused, I’ll say something. Honest. It won’t be a problem, but if I think it will even for a moment, I’ll say something.”
“And I promise, I won’t call you Punchy the third.” Peyton laughed, helping Lauren to her feet.
"The third? What happened to the second?" Peyton whistled like a bomb dropping then made a splat gesture.
“It was gruesome. Oh, and one more thing. You owe me three laps. Three times you had your thumbs turned in.” Lauren started to protest, but Peyton just shrugged. "Three times!" Peyton held up three fingers. Lauren laughed and held up one finger of her own. "See?" Peyton laughed back. "For that, your thumb was out. So from now on, just pretend you're flipping me off, and you'll get it!"
"Keep making me run laps, and that'll be easier said than done!" Lauren warned.
"Thumbs out!" Peyton called one more time as she dashed off. "Thumbs out!"
Out of all the girls on the squad, Lauren was probably the toughest. Maybe it was from taking a lot of falls while skating, or maybe part of it was from being a tank, but Denton Field would be power suppressed. It made things safer for the football players, but a little more dangerous for the cheer squad, so keeping it on the simpler side would be safer, while still looking good. They watched a few videos on Peyton’s laptop, step by step break downs of a toe touch basket toss. Eventually they could add in a layout as soon as Lauren got comfortable flying, and Wyatt and Mia got more comfortable with tossing.
“Are you sure this is the best way to learn?” Lauren asked from the diving board, giving it a few jumps to test its springiness.
“This is one of the worst ways to learn.” Peyton replied with a laugh. “Likely it’s gonna sting a bit even if you hit the water right.”
“You make it sound better and better.” Lauren kidded in return.
“Well, ideally you’d have a trampoline, and be hooked up with a training cable, and there would likely be a foam pit involved. But we don’t have any of those things. What we got is a pool of water, and a diving board. And it beats the alternative.”
“What’s the alternative?”
“We let Wyatt throw you and then hope for the best.” Lauren laughed at that.
“Wyatt would never drop me.” She defended.
“Yeah? You didn’t see what happened to Punchy the first.” Peyton said with a nod, as if that explained everything. Lauren snickered and shook her head. "And it’s not just Wyatt. It’ll be me and Mia, and I know I sure aren’t making any promises. You come flying back at me all wrong, super speed or not, I’m getting myself out of the way.” Peyton covered her head with her arm and pretended to duck out of the way, causing Lauren to laugh again.
“What? You won't have my back?” Lauren joked as she threw her hands out in a gesture of surprise.
“You have Wyatt.” Peyton grinned back. “Let him get your back. Or your foot and your elbow and whatever else comes crashing back down first. Now remember, you’ll be springing off the board here rather than having two people toss you into the air, so the momentum will be a little different. Hit the split jump, and then tuck into a pike for the landing. Be sure you keep your arms forward towards your feet. “ Peyton leaned to demonstrate. “If you don’t, you’re either gonna break both your arms, or make a couple of people on the ground real unhappy when you thump them on the head. And for Pete’s sake....”
“Thumbs out, I know I know.” Lauren smiled back, showing the outside of her thumbs for emphasis.
"One lap for each time you forget!"
She under-compensated a little on the first few jumps, so they looked a little more like lay-backs than toe touches. Then she overcompensated and was actually touching her toes, which was made the jump look more like a pike than a toe-touch, but eventually she got it - pulling three decent jumps in a row, and Peyton tossed her a towel.
“Not bad, not bad.” Peyton complimented. “I’m gonna ask Coach Armstrong if we can give it a go on the field, maybe drag out some mats just in case. Plus if he can sit in for it, he’s got the whole gravity control thing. Mostly I’m going to play it by ear. If we have to scrub it, we scrub it.”
“Why would we have to do that?” Lauren asked, taking a seat on the bench next to Peyton as she towel dried her hair.
“Just... in case anything... you know. Comes up.” Peyton didn’t care to mix words, but it wasn’t exactly an easy subject to broach.
“Comes up how?” Lauren asked warily.
“Just with you and Wyatt.” Peyton began. Lauren immediately rolled her eyes.
“I know back home you had a rule against cheerleaders dating other cheerleaders, but it’s not like that.” Lauren insisted.
“I know. I know. And usually when you hit the field, you’re all business, and I appreciate that, honest and truly I do, because I know it’s hard sometimes to go out and perform and not wear your heart on your sleeve. This is just one of those things, if your heart isn’t 100% in it, we don’t really *need* a basket toss.”
“My heart *is* in it Peyton.” Lauren softened a little. “There’s just a lot going on right now.”
“I get it, I get it.” Peyton nodded in return.
“You don’t get it,” Lauren replied, taking a deep breath. “I had to give up in-line skating, which I love, and I nearly lost Wyatt who I love. I don’t want to give up cheering, but I’m hanging on at school by the skin of my teeth and dumping every spare moment I can stand into studying. Finals are coming up, and I promised my parents I’d get my grades up. If I don’t, I may have to go back home to New Hampshire, and I don’t want to go home. But all that will still be there later. Right now? I’m focused on this. I can do this. I try to give practices 100% of my attention, because I know that mistakes not only look bad, they can get you hurt.” She paused and smirked a little before adding, “And cheerleading has more injuries than any other sport, right?” Peyton smiled at the last part, chuckling a little under her breath.
"If you trust you, I trust you.” She decided. “I didn’t know what was going on was all. It’s just - everyone has ‘stuff.’ you know? Here more than anywhere. Pressure from school and home and then all this added ‘stuff’ like having powers or being gray or waking up 50 years later or falling through floors. What you turn around and do with that 'stuff' - that’s what makes you who you are. Whatever you got going on? Just know you don’t have to hang onto it all yourself. You got Wyatt, but you also have me, and I’m sure anyone else on the squad. We’re a team, right? You can talk to us. Like this. Only you know, not always as sappy."
“There wasn’t a lot of teamwork with skating.” Lauren admitted. “Ice skating anyway. There was Kurt and other people to help, but out there on the ice, it was just you. I admit, it’s nice to find a sport that isn’t so much like that.”
“Right. And you don’t want to have to quit the sport because you end up splattered on the ground in a big old pool of water..”
“I have no idea what you're talking about, but I’m going to agree with it. Look, I promise, if my heart isn’t in it, if I don’t feel focused, I’ll say something. Honest. It won’t be a problem, but if I think it will even for a moment, I’ll say something.”
“And I promise, I won’t call you Punchy the third.” Peyton laughed, helping Lauren to her feet.
"The third? What happened to the second?" Peyton whistled like a bomb dropping then made a splat gesture.
“It was gruesome. Oh, and one more thing. You owe me three laps. Three times you had your thumbs turned in.” Lauren started to protest, but Peyton just shrugged. "Three times!" Peyton held up three fingers. Lauren laughed and held up one finger of her own. "See?" Peyton laughed back. "For that, your thumb was out. So from now on, just pretend you're flipping me off, and you'll get it!"
"Keep making me run laps, and that'll be easier said than done!" Lauren warned.
"Thumbs out!" Peyton called one more time as she dashed off. "Thumbs out!"
If cheerleading was easy, they'd call it football.
Re: Cheer Squad Practice (OPEN)
(I'm a day late, dollar short, but this was on Friday)
Holding practice outside on the field was probably a bad idea. Too many distractions. Peyton swung her eyes around to see an aspiring football player cross her path, and watched him long after he passed. Way too many distractions. But checking out the local talent was too tempting, especially when both practices were at the same time.
She frowned when Sondra didn't show, it wasn't like her not to call or text when she was running late. She could fill in for her easy enough, but that wasn't really the point. They wouldn't be doing all that much stunting today anyway. Today was more about crowd leading and all of the rhyming bad poetry cheers Etienne complained about. She wondered how he was doing back home. Too much mind wandering, and she wasn't the only one.
“It looks like we’re not the only ones out here making the field look good,” Lauren quipped, sauntering her way over. Peyton tightened her jaw, channeling her inner Becca.
“Hey, Lauren? Are you going to join us?”
Holding practice outside on the field was probably a bad idea. Too many distractions. Peyton swung her eyes around to see an aspiring football player cross her path, and watched him long after he passed. Way too many distractions. But checking out the local talent was too tempting, especially when both practices were at the same time.
She frowned when Sondra didn't show, it wasn't like her not to call or text when she was running late. She could fill in for her easy enough, but that wasn't really the point. They wouldn't be doing all that much stunting today anyway. Today was more about crowd leading and all of the rhyming bad poetry cheers Etienne complained about. She wondered how he was doing back home. Too much mind wandering, and she wasn't the only one.
“It looks like we’re not the only ones out here making the field look good,” Lauren quipped, sauntering her way over. Peyton tightened her jaw, channeling her inner Becca.
“Hey, Lauren? Are you going to join us?”
If cheerleading was easy, they'd call it football.
Re: Cheer Squad Practice (OPEN)
The gym was quiet except for the squeaking of Keds against the freshly polished floor, followed by laughter as Peyton and Sondra skipped to the center, followed by Lauren.
“Hey hey, Jeanette!” Peyton called out to the girl on the bleachers, “You all set?” The girl with the snake-like skin grinned and stood up.
“Still not sure about this.” She said, a little warily.
“Cheer squad is a blast.” Peyton assured her.
“You’re going to do great!” Sondra encouraged.
“Go Mustangs!” Lauren added in.
They went through the basics, Lauren and Sondra demonstrating while Peyton helped show Jeanette how to hold her hands, thumb side out. How to hold a T, Candlesticks, all the basic moves. Years of matial arts training meant Jeanette was flexible enough for heel stretches, and with a little practice, she’d be able to hold a scorpion with the best of them. She had incredible balance and strength, Peyton made a mental note about adding the basket toss back in, she’d have to get Wyatt and Lauren together for some practice with her.
Tumbling - Jean had the strength and co-ordination, the finesse would come with practice, which she was more than willing to put the time in for.
“Excellent!” Peyton clapped after Jeanette nailed a round off, keeping her feet together and sticking the landing. “You just have to smile more. Cheering isn’t martial arts.”
“If cheering were easy, they’d call it martial arts!” Sondra kidded.
“Martial arts wishes it was cheering.” Lauren quipped, and Peyton laughed.
“Dang straight!” Peyton added. “The moves? You’re super athletic, you’ll get it. Dance steps - you can think of them like... what do you call it in martial arts?”
“Katas?” Jeanette asked.
“Yeah! Like those, only we move with eight counts to a beat. The more you practice, the easier it gets and most of us are willing to practice whenever you’re around. Sondra and I usually get in some time every day, even if it’s ten minutes before bed time just goofing around in the room.”
“She’s a slave driver.” Lauren chided. Peyton cocked a hand on her hip.
“I’m so not a slave driver! Cheering’s very physical - but the whole point is to have fun - to make sure other people are having fun. No one wants to see a sad squad.” Both Lauren and Sondra made frowning faces, and slumped their shoulders in perfect sync, causing Peyton to dissolve into another fit of giggles. Even Jeanette chuckled and seemed to loosen up some more.
“Cheering’s about looking happy, looking good no matter what’s going on inside.” Sondra helped, mimicking Peyton’s accent.
“It’s about makin’ it look like you’re having the time of your life, even if your stomach is in knots and your muscles’ are screamin’ in agony..” Lauren said in a much more exaggerated accent. Peyton laughed, and hugged them both around the shoulders.
“It’s about having fun. So what do you say, J? Are you in?” Jeanette thought for a second before a fangy grin spread across her face.
“I’m in.” She stated with a nod.
“All right!” Peyton called, zipping over towards her MP3 player. “Time to crack the whip. Now we can start some *real* work.” The opening notes of “Pumped up Kicks” started to play. Sondra got right into the music, but Lauren groaned with a smile.
“Slave driver!”
“On the eights!” Peyton called back, ignoring her. “ Breaking it down slow, and going all night til we all get it all right!”
“Hey hey, Jeanette!” Peyton called out to the girl on the bleachers, “You all set?” The girl with the snake-like skin grinned and stood up.
“Still not sure about this.” She said, a little warily.
“Cheer squad is a blast.” Peyton assured her.
“You’re going to do great!” Sondra encouraged.
“Go Mustangs!” Lauren added in.
They went through the basics, Lauren and Sondra demonstrating while Peyton helped show Jeanette how to hold her hands, thumb side out. How to hold a T, Candlesticks, all the basic moves. Years of matial arts training meant Jeanette was flexible enough for heel stretches, and with a little practice, she’d be able to hold a scorpion with the best of them. She had incredible balance and strength, Peyton made a mental note about adding the basket toss back in, she’d have to get Wyatt and Lauren together for some practice with her.
Tumbling - Jean had the strength and co-ordination, the finesse would come with practice, which she was more than willing to put the time in for.
“Excellent!” Peyton clapped after Jeanette nailed a round off, keeping her feet together and sticking the landing. “You just have to smile more. Cheering isn’t martial arts.”
“If cheering were easy, they’d call it martial arts!” Sondra kidded.
“Martial arts wishes it was cheering.” Lauren quipped, and Peyton laughed.
“Dang straight!” Peyton added. “The moves? You’re super athletic, you’ll get it. Dance steps - you can think of them like... what do you call it in martial arts?”
“Katas?” Jeanette asked.
“Yeah! Like those, only we move with eight counts to a beat. The more you practice, the easier it gets and most of us are willing to practice whenever you’re around. Sondra and I usually get in some time every day, even if it’s ten minutes before bed time just goofing around in the room.”
“She’s a slave driver.” Lauren chided. Peyton cocked a hand on her hip.
“I’m so not a slave driver! Cheering’s very physical - but the whole point is to have fun - to make sure other people are having fun. No one wants to see a sad squad.” Both Lauren and Sondra made frowning faces, and slumped their shoulders in perfect sync, causing Peyton to dissolve into another fit of giggles. Even Jeanette chuckled and seemed to loosen up some more.
“Cheering’s about looking happy, looking good no matter what’s going on inside.” Sondra helped, mimicking Peyton’s accent.
“It’s about makin’ it look like you’re having the time of your life, even if your stomach is in knots and your muscles’ are screamin’ in agony..” Lauren said in a much more exaggerated accent. Peyton laughed, and hugged them both around the shoulders.
“It’s about having fun. So what do you say, J? Are you in?” Jeanette thought for a second before a fangy grin spread across her face.
“I’m in.” She stated with a nod.
“All right!” Peyton called, zipping over towards her MP3 player. “Time to crack the whip. Now we can start some *real* work.” The opening notes of “Pumped up Kicks” started to play. Sondra got right into the music, but Lauren groaned with a smile.
“Slave driver!”
“On the eights!” Peyton called back, ignoring her. “ Breaking it down slow, and going all night til we all get it all right!”
If cheerleading was easy, they'd call it football.
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