Chapter One
My name is Scarlett Jones, and I am a senior here at Westland Academy. I’m a nerd who wears glasses and a kid who got into this school on a scholarship. I have a huge crush on Jackson Oxford, the captain of the football team.
My best friend Bethany Myers. We’ve been friends since the third grade. She has a crush on the Quarterback James Henderson.
After school, Bethany and I went out for ice cream so we could chat about school and, of course, how much we hate the cheer captain. She is such a bitch to both Bethany and me. She’s dating an older guy who doesn’t even go to our school.
“Bethany, do you think I have a chance at making the cheerleading team? They’re holding tryouts.”
“Yes, you do! You’re beautiful.”
“But you know Kiera isn’t going to let me try out. She says I’m a poor, ugly loser that no one wants.”
“Quit doubting yourself, Scarlett. You’re amazing, and you should try out for the team. I know you’ll make it.”
I stared down at my ice cream.
Vanilla.
My favorite.
Normally, it would have made me happy, but my stomach was twisting into knots.
“Kiera is going to make my life miserable,” I said.
Bethany sighed. “Kiera makes everyone’s life miserable.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
“It should.”
I laughed.
Bethany had always been good at that-making me laugh when I wanted to disapper.
We sat quietly for a moment, watching people walk past the shop window.
Then Bethany leaned toward me. “Can I tell you something?”
“Of course.”
“I think James might actually like me.”
I nearly dropped my spoon. “James Henderson?”
She nodded. “The James Henderson?”
“There aren’t exactly a lot of James Hendersons at Westlyn.”
I grinned.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Bethany.”
“Okay, fine. He held the door open for me this morning.”
I stared at her. “That’s it?”
“He smiled too.” I burst out laughing. “You’re hopeless.”
you’re one to talk. You nearly fainted when Jackson said hello to you last week.
“I did not!”
“You absolutely did.”
“I was surprised.”
“You walked into a locker.”
“That locker came out of nowhere.” Bethany laughed so hard that she nearly spilled her ice cream. I couldn’t help laughing with her.
For a few minutes, everything felt normal.
Then the bell on the door jingled, and several students walked into the ice cream shop.
I glanced toward the door.
Jackson.
My heart stopped.
He was standing with two of his football teammates, laughing about something. He looked completely relaxed, like he belonged everywhere he went.
Of course he hadn’t noticed me.
Why would he?
I quickly looked away.
“Don’t,” I whispered.
Bethany’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“Don’t look.”
She immediately looked.
“Oh my gosh.”
“Bethany!”
“What? He’s gorgeous.”
“Keep your voice down!”
Jackson and his friends walked toward the counter.
I suddenly became extremely interested in my melting ice cream.
“Scarlett?”
I looked up.
Jackson was standing right in front of our table.
“Hey.”
“Hi.”
Why did my voice sound like that?
He smiled.
“I didn’t know you came here.”
“Sometimes.”
He nodded.
“I’ve seen you around school.”
“You have?”
“Yeah.”
I could feel my cheeks getting hot.
Bethany kicked me lightly under the table.
Jackson glanced at her.
“Bethany, right?”
She smiled.
“Yep.”
“I’m Jackson.”
She gave me a look that clearly said I know.
“I know,” she replied.
He laughed.
“Right.”
One of his teammates called him from the counter.
“I should go.”
“Okay.”
He turned to leave, then looked back at me.
“Good luck with cheerleading.”
My eyes widened.
“How did you know about that?”
“Everyone knows about tryouts.”
He smiled.
“See you tomorrow, Scarlett.”
Then he walked away.
I watched him until he disappeared.
Bethany slowly turned toward me.
“You are completely red.”
“Shut up.”
“He knows your name.”
“I know.”
“He wished you good luck.”
“I know.”
“He was flirting with you.”
“He was being nice.”
Bethany shook her head.
“You are impossible.”
I smiled despite myself.
Maybe she was right.
Maybe I was always expecting the worst because I was afraid to hope for something better.
After we finished our ice cream, we headed outside.
The evening air was cool, and the sky was beginning to turn pink.
As we walked toward the parking lot, Bethany grabbed my hand.
“You’re going to try out tomorrow.”
I looked at her.
“I am?”
“Yes.”
“What if I don’t make it?”
“Then you tried.”
“What if Kiera laughs at me?”
“Let her.”
“What if everyone thinks I don’t belong?”
Bethany squeezed my hand.
“Then prove them wrong.”
I looked back at Westlyn Academy.
For years, I’d felt like I was on the outside looking in.
The scholarship kid.
The nerd.
The girl with glasses who sat near the front of every classroom.
The girl who had a crush on the football captain but was too scared to even admit it.
Maybe it was time to stop worrying about what everyone else thought.
I took a deep breath.
“Okay.”
Bethany smiled.
“Okay what?”
“I’ll try out.”
She squealed and hugged me.
“I knew it!”
I laughed.
For the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe senior year could be different.
Maybe I could be different.
And maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something I had never expected.
Something involving cheerleading.
Something involving Jackson Oxford.
And possibly something that would change my life forever.
