The gym buzzed with chatter and excitement as the cheerleaders warmed up. The polished wooden floors gleamed under the fluorescent lights, and the faint smell of sweat and rubber filled the air. Kamsi stood near the edge of the group, her hands clutching her pom-poms tightly. Her heart pounded in her chest as she surveyed the other girls, all moving with effortless precision.
Patricia, standing front and center, radiated authority. Her perfectly curled blonde hair bounced as she clapped her hands to gather everyone's attention. "Alright, ladies, let's get started," she said, her tone brisk but tinged with condescension. Her eyes flicked to Kamsi. "Newbies, try not to embarrass yourselves."
Kamsi straightened her spine, refusing to let Patricia's jab faze her. Raine sidled up to her, whispering, "Don't mind her. She's just threatened by fresh talent."
Patricia began demonstrating the routine, her movements fluid and sharp. "One, two, three, four!" she counted, executing a perfect high kick followed by a series of spins. "This is the standard warm-up. If you can't keep up, maybe you're not cut out for this."
The group broke into their positions. Kamsi found herself sandwiched between Raine and another girl, their synchronized movements a stark contrast to her own tentative steps.
"Step out with your right foot—no, your other right," Patricia snapped, her voice dripping with mockery.
Heat rose to Kamsi's cheeks, but she bit back a retort. Instead, she focused harder, her body learning the rhythm with each repetition.
"Now let's move on to stunts," Patricia announced, clapping her hands. She demonstrated a complex move—a basket toss where she soared into the air, her legs forming a perfect V before she landed gracefully in her teammates' arms. "Your turn," she said, her gaze locking on Kamsi like a predator sizing up its prey.
Kamsi stepped forward, her palms damp with sweat. The base team positioned themselves as she climbed into their grip. "You sure she won't fall?" Patricia muttered under her breath, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Kamsi ignored her, inhaling deeply as she launched into the air. For a moment, everything slowed—the air rushing past her, the gym lights blindingly bright. She executed the split mid-air, her body arching beautifully before landing securely in the arms below.
The gym erupted into cheers. Raine pumped her fist in the air. "That's my girl!"
Patricia's smile was tight. "Not bad—for a first-timer," she said. "But don't get cocky. Let's see how you handle the full routine."
The squad formed two lines, pom-poms in hand. Patricia barked instructions, her tone sharp and commanding. "Energy up! Smiles on! We're not just dancing—we're performing!"
The music began—a fast, pulsing beat that filled the gym. Kamsi moved with the group, her body syncing to the rhythm as they executed the steps Patricia had drilled into them.
"Step, clap, kick, turn—higher, Kamsi!" Patricia yelled, her voice cutting through the music.
Kamsi gritted her teeth, pushing harder. She nailed the moves, her body bending and twisting with newfound confidence.
When the routine ended, Patricia stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "Decent effort," she said, her gaze lingering on Kamsi. "But if you want to stay on this team, you'll have to work twice as hard. We don't carry dead weight."
Raine stepped up, placing a protective hand on Kamsi's shoulder. "She's not dead weight, Patricia. She just outperformed half the squad—including you."
Gasps rippled through the team. Patricia's cheeks flushed, but she quickly masked it with a cold smile. "We'll see about that."
"Alright, squad!" Patricia clapped her hands. "Let's wrap up with the cheer. Newbies, try not to butcher it."
The team lined up, pom-poms raised high. Raine nudged Kamsi, whispering, "Just follow my lead."
They began, voices strong and synchronized:
"Red Devil's on the court, here to slay!
Fierce and Bold, were here to play!
Jump,twist,bring the heat!
Watch us crush every team we meet
R-E-D, let's go!
Devil's fight, steal the show! "
Kamsi found herself smiling despite Patricia's attitude. The energy was electric, each move sharp and precise. By the end of the cheer, her voice was hoarse, but her spirit soared.
As practice ended, Patricia cornered Kamsi near the lockers. "Don't think for a second that one decent practice makes you special," she said, her tone icy.
Kamsi met her gaze, her voice steady. "I don't need to be special. I just need to be better than you."
Patricia's jaw tightened, and for once, she had no comeback.
Raine appeared, slinging an arm around Kamsi. "Girl, you're my hero."
Kamsi laughed, her confidence shining brighter than ever. "Let's just say I don't back down easily."
"Are you just going to let her into the chair squad?" Tylee's voice was sharp, her frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. She crossed her arms, eyes narrowing as Patricia continued to flip through her phone, uninterested in her words.
Patricia's gaze snapped to Tylee, the coldness in her eyes a clear warning. "Shut up, Tylee," she snapped, voice low and controlled, but with an edge that silenced any further protests. "You think I'm stupid? That I don't know what I'm doing?"
Tylee flinched, her chest tightening. She hadn't meant to provoke Patricia, but she couldn't stop herself. The irritation clawed at her, a mix of anger and jealousy that she couldn't voice. "No, that's not it... I'm just—" she trailed off, her words swallowed by Patricia's piercing glare.
Patricia's lip curled in a barely perceptible sneer. "Just know that something's coming her way, something she won't see coming." Her words were a promise—one that left Tylee feeling small, even though she was the one trying to challenge her.
Tylee felt the weight of Patricia's words, but also something else—a sense of being invisible. She swallowed hard, fighting the knot in her throat. The way Patricia had spoken made her feel like an afterthought. She hated that feeling. The bitterness of not being noticed, of always being on the sidelines, stung more than she was willing to admit.
Her mind wandered for a moment to Morgan. It felt like for once, Patricia was distracted, her attention pulled away by someone else. The tension between them had been growing for a while, and Tylee couldn't help but wonder if this would finally make Patricia notice her, really see her. But instead, it seemed to make things worse. There was no victory here, just the crushing realization that she would always be the shadow.
At the Alister residence, Jade leaned against the kitchen counter, watching her father with a quiet intensity. "Daddy, I think you've got to try another approach," she said, her voice surprisingly calm. "Clearly, what you're doing isn't working."
Mr. Alister looked up at her, puzzled. His furrowed brow betrayed his confusion. "What do you mean?"
Jade sighed, pushing away from the counter. She didn't take her eyes off him as she spoke, choosing her words carefully. "You want him to accept you, but you haven't fully accepted him. You can't expect him to be part of our family unless you prove it. Not just to him, but to the entire world." Her words were soft but resolute, a quiet plea for her father to understand.
Mr. Alister's gaze faltered, his shoulders stiffening as the weight of her words hit him. "But your mother... this could cause a scandal," he hesitated, voice laced with concern. "It would hurt our family's reputation."
Jade smiled, her expression gentle but firm. "It's a small price to pay for reconciliation. Prove you really want him, Daddy." Her words weren't just a suggestion—they were a challenge. She could see the hesitance in his eyes, but there was something more beneath it. She wasn't sure if it was fear of rejection or something else, but it was clear her father had been holding back for too long.
Mr. Alister hesitated, his hands falling to his sides as he thought it over. Then, slowly, he crossed the room and pulled Jade into a tight hug. "Thanks, kiddo," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I'll do it. I'll make it right."
Jade allowed herself a small, fleeting smile. There was hope in his words, but she knew it wasn't going to be easy. Her father had always been someone who calculated every move, weighed every risk. But if there was one thing she had learned from him, it was how to be persistent, how to push through when others didn't believe.
As they pulled apart, Jade's eyes flickered toward the door, where her mother stood, her arms crossed tightly across her chest. Mrs. Alister's face was set in stone, her expression unreadable. She turned her back without a word, her footsteps echoing sharply against the cold floor as she walked away, leaving a tense silence in her wake.
Jade's stomach churned, but she couldn't let it show. She had already made her choice. Her father would have to prove himself, not just to her, but to the world. But Jade wasn't sure how much her mother was willing to let go, and that thought lingered in her mind long after Mrs. Alister was out of sight.