"Yeah, I do. I know it sounds corny, but I do. It's just performing, really." Our first home game is coming up the following weekend, and I'm nervous as hell. I just don't want to drop any of my stunts or look like a total asshole.
"So you're gonna wear a little uniform and everything?" I roll my eyes.
"It's not little. It's a shirt and pants, dude." Just to shut him up, I get my uniform out to show him. I expect him to continue mocking it, but he doesn't.
"I guess that's not bad. Still. It is a little weird." I don't really give a fuck. I change the subject so I won't get mad at him. Jem is one of the only friends I have here, and I'd hate to ruin it over something stupid.
He doesn't leave until much later, and I almost offer to let him crash on my couch, but he tosses the empty beer bottles in the recycling and gives me a wave before heading out. I tell him to text me when he gets home safe, and he just rolls his eyes before shutting the door.
Weird.
6
Freya
"Are you okay?" Tobi asks me the next day at practice. We're warming up together, and I can feel Rhett staring at my back. I thought he would take our little breakfast non-date as an invitation to bother me more, but he's sort of been keeping his distance. Good. Saves me from having to do it.
"Yeah, why?" I ask, taking her hands and pulling her forward so she's completely stretched out in a straddle. We hold it for a few seconds, and then she pulls me so I'm stretched out instead.
"I don't know. You just seem off. Are you sleeping okay? Eating normally?" Tobi's going to be a nurse, so taking care of people is pretty much her thing. She does it without even realizing. It's one of the things I like most about her.
"Yeah, Tobi, I'm fine," I say as she gets up and then helps me to my feet.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, thanks," I say and Coach calls us to order. This practice is all about getting ready for the game next Saturday. We're still sloppy with our halftime routine, and our partner stunts could definitely use some work. Nine times out of ten they come down early and not in unison. It's driving me nuts. I'm trying not to be a bitch about it, but I spend a lot of practice time grumbling to myself. To be honest, the guys need to hit the gym more. Except for Rhett. Apparently he's one of those "all-in" types, and I've seen him working on conditioning outside of practice multiple times. I've never seen someone who was so new to cheer pick up so many skills that quickly. He's like a mutant.
A hot, annoying mutant.
My stunt partner is Gavin and he's . . . fine. We don't talk a whole lot. He's pretty quiet, actually. But whenever I need him to do something, he takes direction. We work well together. There's been some drama lately, and Coach has been playing musical stunt partners to find the right combination of base and flyer.
Right now Rhett's working with Willow, and they spend more time laughing than any other pair. Even though Rhett's still a little rough around the edges and not as polished, he's strong. I wouldn't be surprised if he could get her in a cupie in no time, with her standing with both feet on his fully extended hand. Gavin definitely isn't close to being able to do that with me yet, and I have to spend most of my time trying to keep my balance as his arms shake when he's holding me. I would be jealous, but then that would mean I'd have to work with Rhett and NO WAY. I'd rather not cheer than have to deal with him being my stunt partner.
"Okay, I think we need to change things up again," Coach yells halfway through practice. Uh-oh. That's never a good thing. I share a glance with Tobi, and I hope this isn't like the time she decided to scramble all our stunt groups and two people ended up with injuries.
"Let's change up stunt partners." I look at Gavin, and he shrugs. I'm not too fond of this. He and I have been working fine for a while, and I'm not keen on breaking in a new partner. Coach looks down at her clipboard and starts reading off the pairs. Some of them are excited. Some are less so. And then she gets to my name.
"Freya and Rhett."
Fuck motherfucking fuck.
Everyone stares at me. Oops. I totally said that out loud.
"I don't think that language is necessary, Freya," Coach says with an icy look. I'm usually one of her favorites because of my skills, but she doesn't like anyone going against her authority.
I clamp my jaw shut and slowly shuffle over to where Rhett is standing. I can't even look at him. Now would be a great time for a sinkhole to open up under the gym floor and suck me in. This day was going so well, and now it's gone to shit. I got an A on an exam I thought I was going to bomb and accidentally got ahead on some of my reading. And then this happens because the universe hates me.