*Beauty*
This is not going to work.
"Relax Beauty," Gemma hissed from my right. "It'll work."
Considering that, until she was fourteen, Gemma was convinced pandas had the ability to read minds, I did not believe anything she said in the least.
I especially did not believe that this plan would work.
We all knew there was no way coach would ever let me perform with the squad, regardless of Chelsea's broken arm. Hell would have to freeze over before she went back on her word.
So Gemma had come up with a "brilliant" idea. Since today's routine would be performed with tiger masks (we were supposed to yank them off at the end, revealing our painted faces) coach would never see my face, not until it was too late.
All we had to do was keep me hidden until we stepped out onto the field to begin the cheer. Once we were out there, there was nothing Coach could do without causing a scene. She couldn't do a thing until the game ended and the cheerleaders had to return to the locker room.
And, by then, I would be long gone.
So the solution: walk out in pairs like we were supposed to. Act normal.
Which was basically not a solution at all.
The hall ahead stretched impossibly long, the field shimmering in the distance like an oasis. The sound of the school band and the scent of popcorn and corndogs drifted towards us.
And then the last person I wanted to see appeared. Coach strode into view, standing at the entrance of the field as the cheerleaders marched through.
My heartbeat took off. This is not going to work.
I didn't even want to imagine what coach would do if she caught me.
Boil me alive perhaps? Feed me to her rottweilers?
Get me suspended?
"Calm down," Gemma hissed. "She'll only figure it out if you freak out."
I took a breath and held it. I was Ellie Freaking Kent, I'd already faced my worst nightmare and I'd come out breathing. Whatever happened, I would handle it
Gemma and I reached the entrance and a cold breeze lifted the strands of my ponytail. I kept my gaze fixed straight ahead.
Please don't notice us. Please don't notice us.
"Stop," Coach ordered.
Gemma and I froze.
I could feel Coach's glare boring into the side of my face. My lungs constricted.
Then, "Fix your maskâit's wonky."
I smothered a gasp. With fumbling fingers, I adjusted my mask.
Coach scowled. "Get a move on then," she snapped.
Gemma caught my wrist and pulled me forward.
I felt lightheaded as we continued walking.
And, with each step, we got further and further from Coach.
Further and further from discovery.
"Told you." I could hear Gemma's grin through her mask.
My laughter was breathless. "I can't believe that worked."
"Neither can I." Madison appeared beside us.
"She's going to be so pissed when she finds out," Layla laughed. "I can't wait!"
"I love you guys," I said, tears welling up.
The declaration was followed by a series of awws and I love you toos.
We reached the centre of the field, and relief and excitement poured through me. I couldn't see any of my cheermates' faces but I could almost feel their laughter. It worked.
I clapped my hands together. "This is our last cheer of the year," I started. My voice broke and a flurry of comforting words surrounded me, a few of the other cheerleaders patting my arm.
Why hadn't I appreciated this?
"Thanks guys," I croaked. I cleared my throat and straightened up. "Let's show them what we can do."
"Right!"
We lined up, hands behind our backs, facing the crowd. This was it.
So many years on the squad, and this was my final cheer. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.
If this was really it, I was going to give it my all.
The arena quietened, until the silence felt like a living thing.
I grinned and, raising my voice so it echoed throughout the arena, "Formation!"
And we began the final cheer of the year.
*
The team won.
When the last goal went in half a second before the buzzer, the entire crowd roared. The cheerleaders rushed onto the field as the ballers swarmed the player that had scored the winning goal.
And, even though the goal didn't solve all of my problems, it was so amazing to get caught up in the excitement, the giddiness so palpable that you could practically taste it on the air. It felt good to focus on the joy and the excitement, and to forget everything else.
Gemma hooked her arm over my shoulder, pulling me in for a selfie as the players went wild behind us. "Commemorative photo!"
I laughed. "My last moments before Coach buries me alive."
"At least you won't be buried alone," Madison grinned.
Layla made a finger gun and kissed it. "We all go down together."
A lump swelled in my throat. "You guysâ"
"Ellie!"
I turned to see Justin running towards us, a grin stretched across his face.
My brows furrowed. "Whatâ"
I never finished my question. Because, in the next moment, he was kissing me.
*
Hello wonderfuls â it has been a long time since I updated BATGB, and I'm so sorry it's come so late. I have a lot to say but I can't fit it all here, so I'll post an announcement on my profile later today, with information about the update schedule going forward. Anyway, I hope you liked the chapter and thank you so much for sticking with this novel for so long. God bless and see (write) you soon.
xxx
Yemi Everest