[Music recommendation: Eastside by Benny Blanco]
"Oh. My. God. Girl, what you did out there was EPIC!" one of the girls exclaimed, her eyes wide with astonishment, as Kamsi made her way back toward the locker room.
Kamsi, flushed but trying to remain humble, smiled shyly. "I don't know, I just did it. Watched a bunch of videos, practiced a lot... and, well, here we are."
The girl, Raine, couldn't contain her admiration. "That was insane ! Seriously, you've got to teach me your ways! I swear, I've never seen anyone pull off a backflip like that into a split!" She shook her head in disbelief. "You're like... Next level ."
Kamsi laughed softly, the warmth of the compliment making her chest swell with pride. "Most sure, thanks. Glad it worked out."
Raine's eyes sparkled mischievously as she leaned in closer. "And did you see Patricia's face when you landed that move?" She grinned widely, clearly enjoying the drama. "It was epic. The second-in-command captain of the squad, rattled by the rookie. I didn't think I'd ever see the day."
Kamsi's lips curved into a small, amused smile, but she could feel a slight tension curling in her stomach at the mention of Patricia. "Oh, yeah... I did see it."
Raine burst out laughing, unable to hold it back. "I thought she was going to burst a vein, honestly. You've got her shook."
Kamsi chuckled lightly, trying to downplay the tension that still lingered between her and Patricia. "I guess so. But you know how it is... everyone's got their own thing. Patricia's a pro."
Raine paused, giving Kamsi a knowing look. "Right. But you just made the entire squad take notice, girl."
Kamsi's grin widened, though it felt more bittersweet now. It wasn't about proving herself to Patricia, but to herself. And now, for the first time, it felt like she had her foot in the door.
Before Kamsi could respond, Raine's tone shifted back to playful. "By the way..." she said, her voice almost sing-song. "I'm Raine, remember? We're going to be besties after this!"
Kamsi laughed, feeling a genuine sense of warmth. "Yeah, yeah. I got it. Raine."
They both laughed, and the atmosphere lightened. Kamsi, however, couldn't shake the lingering feeling that something was about to change, especially with Patricia. She could practically feel the jealousy simmering from the squad's second-in-command. But for now, it didn't matter. For now, she had just done something epic.
---
Zendaya slammed her locker shut with a metallic clang, the sound echoing faintly down the bustling hallway. As she turned, Kamsi popped out from behind her with a mischievous grin.
"Oh my God, you scared me!" Zendaya exclaimed, clutching her chest dramatically.
Kamsi let out a soft chuckle, eyes glinting with amusement. "Surprise!"
Zendaya's heart was still racing. "Girl, don't do that! You nearly gave me a heart attack." She shook her head, a wry smile tugging at her lips.
"Sorry, couldn't resist." Kamsi's laugh was light, but her excitement was unmistakable.
They began walking toward the school's exit, the chaotic energy of the day fading behind them. "So," Zendaya asked, casting Kamsi a curious glance, "how was the tryout?"
Kamsi stopped mid-step, a dramatic flair in her movement as she fanned herself with an imaginary breeze. Then, with a grin as bright as the afternoon sun streaming through the windows, she pulled a pom-pom from her bag. "I got it! I'm officially a cheerleader!"
Zendaya's eyes widened in delight before she threw her arms around Kamsi. "Oh my God, congratulations! I'm so happy for you!" Her voice was genuine, and her excitement was contagious.
Kamsi's cheeks flushed with pride. She had worked hard for this, and sharing the moment with Zendaya made it even sweeter.
The day was far from over. By evening, Kamsi was practically bouncing with excitement as she spotted Xavier leaning against his bike, his devil-may-care smirk firmly in place.
"Guess what?" she called out, unable to contain her joy.
Xavier straightened, his brow lifting in curiosity. "What?"
"I made it! I'm on the cheerleading team!"
For a split second, a flicker of genuine surprise crossed his face before his smirk returned. In one swift motion, he grabbed her by the waist and spun her around. "That's my girl!" he teased, his laughter rich and warm.
Kamsi squealed, her heart pounding—whether from the spinning or the closeness, she wasn't sure. As he set her down, his hands lingered a moment longer than necessary, his gaze dropping to hers.
"We should celebrate," Xavier said, his voice dropping an octave, a hint of playfulness curling around his words.
Kamsi's lips parted, but then her mother's strict instructions rang in her mind. She stepped back, shaking her head. "I can't. I promised my mom I'd head straight home after practice."
Xavier's smirk softened. "Fair enough. Hop on—I'll take you."
The quiet evening was wrapped in a soft golden hue, the streetlights casting gentle halos on the pavement as Xavier and Kamsi strolled side by side, their fingers loosely intertwined. Their steps slowed as they reached the front of their apartments, which stood across from each other like two silent sentinels, separated only by the narrow walkway between them. The night carried a kind of stillness that made the moment feel heavier, almost fragile.
Kamsi tilted her head, her lips curving into a smile that seemed lighthearted but didn't quite mask the hesitation flickering in her eyes. "Goodnight," she murmured, her voice warm, though the reluctance beneath her tone was hard to miss.
Xavier released her hand, slipping his own into his pocket with a casualness that didn't reach his gaze. His eyes stayed locked on her, dark and searching, as if memorizing every detail. "Go on," he said, nodding toward her door, his tone teasing but with an undercurrent of something deeper—something unspoken.
Kamsi let out a soft laugh, the sound more a gentle breeze than a burst of joy. "No, you go first," she countered, a playful challenge lighting her expression as she crossed her arms loosely.
Xavier's lips twitched into that trademark smirk, the one that always seemed to hint at trouble. "How about we go in at the same time?" he suggested, his voice low, almost conspiratorial.
She considered him for a moment, her brows lifting in mock deliberation before she nodded. They stood there, neither moving, their gazes meeting and holding, the air between them charged with something neither could quite name.
Finally, they turned toward their respective doors. But just as Kamsi reached for her handle, she glanced back—and found him already looking at her. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to shrink until it was just them, standing on opposite sides of a line they weren't ready to cross.
Xavier hesitated, then closed the distance between them in a few long strides. Before Kamsi could react, he pulled her into a firm embrace, his arms wrapping around her like a protective shield. His voice, when it came, was a whisper that brushed against her ear and sent a shiver down her spine. "I'm going to miss you," he admitted, the vulnerability in his words breaking through the walls he so carefully kept in place.
Kamsi leaned back slightly, her face tilted up to meet his, her lips curving into a sly smile that softened the sharp flutter of her heart. "Well," she teased, her voice light but steady, "if you miss me too much, you know where to find me."
Xavier chuckled, the sound low and rich, his gaze dipping to hers with a glint of mischief. "Is that you giving me permission to jump over to your balcony?" he asked, his tone laced with mock incredulity.
Kamsi laughed, the sound bright and unguarded, her eyes glinting with humor. "Like you've ever waited for permission to do anything," she shot back, rolling her eyes even as her cheeks flushed faintly.
He smirked, his thumb brushing a strand of hair away from her face with a tenderness that made her breath catch. Without another word, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, the gesture so soft and fleeting it felt almost sacred.
"Go inside," he murmured, his voice a low command, though the lingering warmth in his gaze softened the edge.
Kamsi nodded, her smile faltering into something gentler, more hesitant, as she turned and slipped inside her apartment. Leaning against the closed door, her heart raced, each beat a reminder of how close he had been, how easily he unsettled her.
Outside, Xavier stood motionless, his gaze fixed on her balcony. His smirk returned, but it was softer now, less calculated. A thought tugged at the edge of his mind—a thought he wasn't ready to name but couldn't quite dismiss. Maybe one day, he really would jump to her side. And for the first time, he didn't care what that meant.
The door behind him clicked shut as he turned toward his own apartment, his steps measured, but his mind still lingering on her.