*Beauty*
I was grounded.
The reasons were a little iffy. Mom hadn't been particularly angry about me leaving school early. She was more angry about the fact that the boy in the poster wasn't Justin Markson, captain of the football team. She seemed to be under the impression that we were dating.
When I'd told her that I wasn't interested in Justin Markson, she'd gone into a rampage of epical proportions and banished me to my room. Dad had shot me an apologetic look, then tried to distract her.
Apparently, she'd called Dad when the school had called her about the picture. He'd come home from work early to make sure she was okay. What with the pregnancy being high-risk and all.
But, to be honest, despite the grounding, I couldn't force my smile to vanish. I'd flopped onto the bed, grinning at the ceiling as I replayed Will's shocked expression after I'd kissed him.
Me and Will were dating. Legitimately. And everyone knew.
I squealed, rolling.
It was so amazing. For him to be completely and publicly mine. I'd imagined a lot of things about how Will and I would become a couple. Thisâthe poster, the early leave, the misunderstandingâI could never see coming. But, I didn't mind how it had happened anymore. I was just happy it had.
A knock on the door made me sit up.
"Sweetheart?" Dad called from the hall. "Can I come in?"
I nodded. "'Course."
Dad opened the door, stepping inside. He smiled, though his features were a little tired. There were lines on his face that hadn't been there before.
"Hey sweetie." He perched on the corner of my bed. "Your mom's gone to sleep."
That explained why I could no longer hear her shouting.
His expression became apologetic. "You didn't do anything wrong, alright?" He shook his head. "Whoever put up that posterâI don't know if it was a prank or whatâ" Abruptly, he frowned. His eyes snapped to mine. "You're not being bullied, are you?"
I shook my head. "No! Of course not!"
Bullying didn't happen in our school. At least, I'd never seen it happening.
"It's just this girlâshe's best friends with the guy in the pictureâor she was anyway. She doesn't want us to be together."
Dad frowned, then nodded. "Ok, then. Just be careful, and tell me if anything happens. The principal made it clear that you weren't in any trouble. It wasn't your fault the poster was put up, but your mother..." His features became tired again. "Remember what I said when I told you girls about the pregnancy?"
I nodded, swallowing. It was high-risk. We never acknowledged it out loud, how dangerous it was for mom to be giving birth.
"We have to be careful that we don't stress out your mother. You don't deserve to be groundedâI want you to understand that. But if you could just bear with it..." His expression became pleading.
I squeezed his hand, smiling. "It's okay dad, I don't mind."
If being grounded was my punishment for dating William Johnson, I could take it.
He searched my face. Relief seeped into his features. "Thank you sweetie." He squeezed me into a hug. "You're a wonderful daughter."
I beamed.
Dad pulled back. He hesitated, then, "So...that boy..."
I stilled, biting my lip.
He raised an eyebrow. "How long has that been happening?"
I blushed. "We started dating a little while ago?" And I've had a crush on him for seven years.
Dad's brows furrowed, his gaze intent. "And he treats you properly?"
I nodded quickly. "He's amazing," I breathed.
Dad's expression softened. "You should bring him over." He made a face. "Not nowâwhile your mom's madâbut later. It would be nice to meet him."
I grinned. "Of course."
I tried to imagine Will in my house, eating dinner with my family. I could barely believe that it was even a possibility.
Dad opened his mouth to say something, when the bell rang.
He stood. "I should probably get that before the noise wakes up your mom." He kissed my forehead. "We'll talk later."
"Later," I said as he left.
Once the door shut, I flopped back on my bed, my thoughts returning to Will.
I'd see him tomorrow at school and then... A grin immediately returned to my face. I glanced at my phone, biting my lip. It had been a few hours since he'd dropped me off. Was it too soon to message him?
Before I could stop myself, I typed out a quick message:
Hey, Will ð What are you up to? Do you have time to talk?
My door swung open.
Gemma stalked into the room, her expression fixed into a glare. Layla and Madison slipped inside after her.
I sat up. "Guys? What's wrong?"
Madison gave me a look that was a mixture of exhaustion and apology. She shut the door quietly behind them.
Layla's face had shut down. Her lips were pressed together, her arms folded.
My brows furrowed. "What happened?"
Madison glanced at Gemma warily. "Gemmaâ"
"What happened?" Gemma demanded. "I don't knowâwhy don't you tell us? Since when were you and William Johnson a thing?"
I blinked quickly. "Oh." I blushed. "We've been dating for a little whileâ"
"And what?" Gemma snapped. "It didn't occur to you to tell us?"
My brows furrowed, confusion running through me. "Are you mad at me?"
"I don't know Ellie, are we?"
I glanced at Madison and Layla. They both looked tense.
"I don't understand," I frowned, "what did I do?"
"What did you do?" Gemma repeated. "Are you serious right now?"
I was so confused.
"For goodness' sake we're your best friends! We had no idea that you even spoke to him, let alone that you were dating him!" Gemma yelled. "Did it even occur to you to tell us?"
My eyes widened. "Oh."
So that's why they were mad.
"You didn't trust us." Layla's voice was low. She was staring at me, hurt in her gaze.
Madison didn't say anything.
My stomach sunk. They were hurt. They were hurt because I'd kept it a secret. They were my best friends and I hadn't told them the truth.
I stood. "I'm sorry guys. It wasn'tâit wasn't because I didn't trust you."
Gemma crossed her arms, still glaring at me. "Explain."
Madison and Layla stared at me, waiting.
I bit my lip, focusing my gaze on my feet. Then I inhaled a breath. "I've had a crush on Will for seven years."
It was so strange saying it out loud.
I snuck a glance to at them. They all looked shocked. Gemma was gaping at me, before she remembered that she was supposed to be angry and her mouth snapped shut.
"I never told anyone, becauseâI just had this fear that if I said it out loud he would somehow find out and reject me."
"That would make him the biggest idiot since ever," Gemma muttered. Her glare had softened slightly. "Continue," she ordered.
"A while ago, my maths teacher assigned Will as my tutor, and so we started hanging out more." I blushed. "And then I found out he liked me and we started dating."
"I'm waiting for the bit where you explain why you didn't tell us. Your so-called best friends," Gemma said.
"I wanted to tell you guys," I hurried out, "but there was never a right time. And I thought Will wanted to keep us a secretâ"
"Wait, what?" Layla interrupted.
Madison's brows furrowed. "He wanted you to date in secret? Why would he want to date you in secret?"
My shoulders slumped. "You know, because I'm not as smart as him."
Layla's eyes narrowed. Her voice lowered. "Did he say that to you?"
Gemma's nostrils flared. "Thatâ"
I shook my head rapidly. "No! Noâit was a misunderstanding. I thought he wanted to date in secret because I wasn't good enough for him. And he thought I was keeping our relationship a secret. Anyway, I never got around to telling you guys." I inhaled a breath. "I'm sorry. You're my best friends in the whole world and I was stupid for not trusting you. I wish I'd told you seven years ago. I wish I hadn't been so scared."
There was a beat of silence. I glanced up at them.
Finally, Madison gave me a gentle smile. She squeezed my hand.
"We understand."
Layla's cold expression thawed. She wrapped her arms around me. "I forgive you."
I smiled. "Thank you guys." My eyes flickered to Gemma. "Gemma?" I asked, hesitant.
Her features were still hard. She huffed. "Fine. I forgive youâdummy."
I grinned, then hugged her.
She pretended to be angry before she hugged me back.
She scowled when she pulled away. "I can't believe you would date some guy who wanted to keep you a secret."
"You shouldn't have done that," Layla agreed.
Madison brushed a lock of my hair back, her brows wrinkling. "The fact that you would is really worrying."
"Anyway," Gemma said, stalking round us and plopping on my bed, "I want the entire story. From the start."
Layla settled next to her, nodding. "Me too."
Madison frowned as she sat as well. "Quick questionâwhat was up with the poster? Why would anyone put it up?"
"Oh my gosh," I said, straightening, "it was this girlâCatherine."
And thus, I launched into the saga of Will and I.
*
The girls could only stay for an hourâthey'd come during a break. They came back after school. (Mom's grounding didn't include meeting up with other cheerleaders so they were allowed). I told them everything from the beginning. They were shocked that I'd liked him for so long and so much and they hadn't known about it. And they all agreed Catherine was evil.
It was surprisingly fun talking to them about Will. I hadn't realised how much I missed out on, not being able to tell anyone about him. By the end of the story, I was pretty sure I'd won over Madison and Layla to Will's team. Gemma, however, still resented him a little. She directed all the blame for my secret-keeping to Will.
After they'd left, I was light-headed from talking, laughing and squealing so much.
I stayed up later than I usually did, waiting for Will to reply to my message.
He didn't.
Eventually, I went to sleep. I rose the next day, overflowing with excitement. I spent extra long on my outfit and my make up.
When Madison and the others came to pick me up, I was practically bouncing with excitement. They laughed at my behaviour.
I couldn't contain it. I couldn't wait to see Will.
But he wasn't in school.
As the day went on, my excitement dissipated, replaced by concern. I kept glancing at my phone. Will still hadn't replied.
"Kent!"
My head jerked up. "Yes!"
My eyes locked with coach's glare. She was standing on the grass of the stadium, her arms crossed, and her expression twisted into anger.
I glanced around, remembering my surroundings. Cheer practice, after school. The cheerleaders had been sitting on the stadium chairs, waiting for coach to show up.
Distracted, I hadn't heard everyone go quiet.
My eyes returned to coach, her glare burning fiery holes into my face. When she spoke, her voice was terrifyingly low. "Is your phone more important to you than this team Kent?"
I swallowed. "I-I'm sorry." I tucked my phone away quickly.
"Answer my question Kent."
I shook my head. "No, it's not. I'm really sorry."
Coach's glare didn't shift.
The silence that had settled over our corner of the stadium was tense. No one dared to move, let alone speak.
Coach was usually in a bad mood. But she looked especially angry today.
Her eyes narrowed. "Are you deaf Kent?"
I blinked quickly. "No."
"How about stupid?" she asked.
Gemma jerked. She parted her lips.
"I-I don't think so," I said quickly. If Gemma got into an argument with coach while coach was in this mood, Gemma would definitely get herself kicked off the team.
Coach's eyes didn't shift from mine. "Does anyone remember the rules I laid out before we went on the cheer trip?"
No one spoke. The cheerleaders glanced at each other, wary.
"Well?" she snapped.
Everyone flinched.
"N-no wandering," a freshman, Lila Thompson, squeaked out.
Coach's glare shifted to Lila. She was sat in the front row. Lila started trembling.
"And?"
Lila swallowed audibly. "N-no romantical fraternizing?"
My eyes widened.
Coach's gaze returned to mine. "I repeat: no romantical fraternizing. Now, Kent, would you like to explain to me why there was a poster of my Head Cheerleader kissing a boy, during the school trip, in the hotel we booked?"
I parted my lips, but nothing came out.
That rule hadn't even crossed my mind when I was with Will.
Coach didn't look away from me. "Thompson."
Lila flinched. "Y-y-yes?"
"What did I say would happen to anyone on either teams who broke this rule?"
Lila shot me a pleading look. "A-anyone caught will be suspended from cheer and football," she whispered.
"Exactly." Coach's face was stone. "Ellie Kent, you are off the team."
My heart stopped.
Waitâwhat?
Gemma snapped to her feet. "You can't do that! She's the head cheerleader!"
Madison's gaze flickered from Gemma to the coach. "Coach, to qualify for college scholarships for cheerleading, college scouts have to see her cheer at games."
"It's not fair," Layla added. "She's our best cheerleader."
I could barely breathe, let alone think. Coach's words echoed in my head.
Coach took a long blink. "You're all correct."
Gemma blinked. Madison's shoulders slumped in relief. The same relief rushed through me. It was fine. Everything was fineâ
"Which is why she is no longer head cheerleader."
My breathing jarred to a stop. "What?"
Coach was no longer glaring. She stared at me with blank disinterest. "As of today, Ellie Kent is stripped of her title of Head Cheerleader. She is no longer on the team. Chelsea Simmonsâ" Her gaze shifted to Chelsea "âis the new head cheerleader."
*
Hello wonderfuls :) Hope you liked the chapter!
For updates on what days I post, do check my profile. Also, if you guys have time, please check out my new story Playing Heart Games (I started it a little while ago, so technically it's not new, but it still feels new to me XD). If you like cheese, romance, revenge plots and bad boys, you might like it ;)
Also, I want to start using graphics in some of my stories. Do you guys have any ideas? What kind of graphics do you think would be cool?
God bless
xxx
Yemi Everest