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I move my brown hair from my face just before we go into cheer. I’m not the cheer captain but Beckee is. She’s the typical cheer captain, blond hair, blue eyes, perfect body. But that’s how you have to be when you’re a cheerleader. You have to have the looks, the body, the sexiness.
Our skirts hug the curves of our hips, mine stopping below my arse while Beckee’s stops so high up that you can see a bit of her underwear before she even bends over. I’m not the best looking cheerleader on the team. I have plain brown hair, hazel brown eyes, and nothing much more. I mean sure my body is great. I’m very proud of the curves that I have, the fullness I have but I look nothing like Beckee and even worse I don't look perfect enough for Grant.
He’s the football captain. As usual, the captains get together. Who cares about the extra cheerleaders? To everyone else we’re just Beckee’s minions. I was fine with being Beckee’s shadow, I didn't need the spotlight on me. At least not until I realized I have feelings for Grant.
Me and Grant only hooked up like three times but as expected, he never brought it up, he just went back to the old way. Ignoring me and talking to Beckee. Grant isn't Beckee’s boyfriend-not yet. And he isn't mine either. I wish though but I’m the nobody on the team.
I blend in with the crowd. I’m just the extra in the movie. A whistle blows, the cheer coach calling time. We all end our practice, going over to the Jocks. Grant’s eyes meet mine for like two seconds before it goes to Beckee so I make a beeline towards my gym bag and I sit in the bleachers by my lonesome taking on a sip of water. Our cheer coach is no joke. Once, we had to stay back for like two hours just because one of the girls didn't know how to do the splits. “Ari.” I look up at one of the other girls like me; the shadows. I smile at Parker.
We’re both wearing a purple and grey skirt with a same colored top that has the letters PMH. Which stands for Purpton Meadows Highschool.
“Hi Parker.” Parker sits next to me, taking a sip from her own pink colored Stanley water bottle. She looks at Beckee then looks at me.
“You think she’ll ever be nice enough to let Grant be with you?”
“Who? Beckee?”
“Yes Beckee. I just think it’s unfair. I don't understand why we have to be in the shadows. The dumb extra girls.” I chuckle and Parker shakes her head. She has striking black hair, green eyes, and as usual-the perfect body. She’s Italian. Most of us on the team aren't the same race. Beckee is white and some of the other girls are Brazilian, Hispanic, Jamaican, Korean, Asian, Indian, Black, Bi-racial and then there’s me, the other white girl on the team. Another girl named Drusie is also white.
“I’m sure it’ll be okay,” I say.
“Okay? You hooked up with Grant two days ago and it’s like, he treats you like a nobody.” Parker scoffs. “Sometimes I just don't get it.”
“Me neither but then I do. Look at Beckee then look at me.” Parker rolls her eyes.
“I don't care. I don't agree that everything should be stereotypical all the time. Beckee just likes what she can get.”
“We can't talk about Beckee. She’s our captain.”
“So what? That doesn't mean I have to like her. Come on Ari. You should be up fighting for your man.”
“No thanks. I’d rather not embarrass myself. I embarrassed myself three times already and he’s done the same thing; push me to the side like everyone else does.” Parker grimaces.
“I forgot about that. I was gonna ask the girls if we should go swimsuit shopping.”
“For what?” Parker sits up straighter, sipping for her bottle then smiling wide. Showing off her perfect pearly white teeth.
“Well, Runie invited us to go camping with them. There’s this perfect giant land filled with trees and embedded nature. Before we went, I thought that maybe we could enjoy the perfect time of land by going to the beach and getting wet a bit. Wearing beautiful bikinis that have all the guys fawning over us like dogs.”
“That’s if they aren't too busy staring at Beckee.”
“True. But we can still have a chance.”
“So you’re going camping?”
“Totally. Beats following Beckee around for hours a day to listen to all her ‘boy drama’. I’ve never been camping and I just wanna try it. Plus, can you imagine me in very beautiful hiking shorts with a pretty top to match?” I shake my head laughing and she does the same. Before we continue practice, Runie, Drusie, and some of the other shadow girls (the cheerleaders that aren't fond of Beckee and not the cheer captain) come to sit with us. Three of them stay back with Beckee and the Jocks, Jin-the Asian girl, Sofia-one of the Mexicans, and Jiya-one of the Indians. We all enjoy ourselves by picturing how we’re going to enjoy camping before the cheer coach blows her whistle and we have to go back to our practice. After practice, Me and Parker make our way to the cafeteria.
Of course we go sit with the other girls but only me and Parker talk. Runie and Drusie cut into our conversation, making it just us four while the other girls enjoy themselves with the Jocks. Runie smiles biting into her chocolate dipped strawberries. “I can't wait to go swimming,” Runie says. “My bikini will be red with a few sparkles. It’ll be perfect.” It definitely will go well with her mixed skin-her dad is a Brazilian Marine Biologist and her mom is a black female artist and geologist. Both great people in person.
“I need a mani-pedi. Big time. It would be nice to have it done before we leave for the camping trip,” Drusie says while examining her own nails, her favorite color is orange and it matches her pale white skin really well. Parker smiles.
“Great. We’ll have something to do then. Mani-pedi, then the beach, and then home to pack for the camping trip. O.M.G. I have never been so excited.”
“What about you Ari? Anything you wanna add?” I shake my head at Runie.
“I’m all good with the plans.”
“Wonderful.” After lunch, I go to my locker and put up my books. I could use some sleep. A beautiful nap I will take after school. I mentioned my need for a nap to Parker, so she told Runie and Drusie that our plans will have a little setback. Of course the girls agreed and were totally fine with it. I hold onto my keeps and make it to my jeep wrangler. It’s my dad’s but he’s lending it to me and he says if I take good care of it, it’ll be mine.
“Hey Ari.” I turn to Grant. He’s wearing jeans and a white polo. His black hair is perfectly low cut. His mid-dark black skin is also perfect.
“Hi.” I finally say after I got a good look at him.
“Can you do me a solid?”
“Sure. What is it?”
“I need a ride. I came here with Stephen but he’s with Jesse and I don't feel like lingering around.”
“Um. Okay. Sure.”
“Thanks.” We both get in the car. I drive off, trying not to look at him. He’s in my car right now. Which is totally different because we don't really talk outside of school. We only ever hooked up at parties.
Mainly because we were both out of it from a drink or just insanely horny. Right now we aren't, he’s sitting in my car and I’m taking him home. It's not hard to find his place because I’ve been to his house once. When Beckee made me and Parker come because she wanted someone there-it was only so we could hook up with two of the guys that were at his house from the football team, Kurt and Andrew-while she hooked up with Grant. They were attractive but me and Parker have a type. They just didn't fit in it.
And also because I was busy trying to to contain my heartbreak at what was happening upstairs. Thank God I had Parker. In a matter of minutes I pull up to a two story brick house. Grant looks up from his phone for the first time since he’s been in my car. “Thanks again.” I nod. Stay chill Ari. Stay chill.
“You’re welcome.” His hand goes on the handle to get out but he doesn’t move until the door opens. A girl comes to the jeep and he sighs heavily getting out.
"Hi Ari!” She yells and I wave at her. Aaliyah is his fourteen year old sister. We spoke through some of the time we visited. Me, her and Parker. She saved us from doing anything with Kurt and Andrew. “Are you coming in?” She asks, pointing at the door.
“Go in instead of asking questions.” Grant tells her and she waved at him in dismissal.
“Are you coming?” She asks once again and I shake my head.
“No. Sorry. I have a lot to do at home.”
“Oh come on. Please? Mom taught me how to make peanut butter brownies. Somebody has to try it.” That’s very tempting. I glance at Grant and he seems real nonchalant about it.
“I don't know…”
“Grant’s totally fine with it. Right, Grant?” He shrugs.
“I’m going in the house.” He leaves her standing there and just when his door shuts she gets in.
“Please Ari? It’ll be fun. We could watch a beautiful movie.”
“I’m very sleepy. But if you want, you can wrap some up for me and I’ll try it.”
“You're the best. Come in though. Mom will kill me if I leave her door opened or leave a guest outside.”
“Okay.” We both go inside. Aaliyah leads me to the kitchen. She grabs a knife.
“I’m meeting up with Drusie, Runie, and Parker lately. They’ll probably love a piece.” Aaliyah’s eyes light up.
“Totally. I forgot about them. How’s your cheering going?”
“Well. We only practiced for thirty minutes.”
“Cool. I would love to be a cheerleader too, only thing though, the crowd. No way.” Aaliyah sets the brownies on a paper plate then goes into the cabinets. “Dang it. There's no aluminum foil up here. I’ll be right back. I’m gonna go to the extra pantry in the basement to see if there’s some more.”
“I’ll be right here.” She smiles and disappears. I lean against the island counter. I could sleep right now with the smell of brownies filling my nostrils, the hum of the fridge and the slight sound of the AC. It would all be perfect. Right here. Right now. For this moment. My eyes close but they fly open when I feel hands grip my hips. I can smell musk and cedarwood. Grant's usual smell other than cigarette smoke.
“You looked great in your uniform…and without it.” I turn to him, his hands coming off my hips.
“Thank you.” I whisper. That's a compliment. I think. Grant smiles coming closer to me. Closing any space left between us when he kisses my lips. My body presses up against the counter and my eyes close. His hand grips my hair, pulling on it slightly. I open my mouth for him, letting him slide his tongue in.
My arms wrap around his neck and his free hand grabs my hip. His tongue rolls against mine, taking over my mind, body, and soul. My moan drags out of me before I even think to catch it. It’s a perfect feeling with his soft lips against mine.
His hand in my hair and the other on my hip. I saw him with Beckee earlier. Kissing her almost just like this but there was space between them. Me and him are so close there’s no space at all. His head tilts as he lets out a groan. We both hear footsteps-Aaliyah’s footsteps-and he breaks our kiss with a small nibble on my bottom lip. Just seconds after he leaves me still in a cloud, Aaliyah appears. “So there’s no Aluminum foil but I did find Saran wrap. Is that okay?” I turn to her pushing my hair back.
“Yeah. Thanks Aaliyah.”
“No problem. No problem at all.”
