It is Friday, 31st of August,  the day I would be trying out for the school cheerleading team.
I have gone to just 3 dance classes but I'm a naturally talented dancer.

Moreso, I have seen all the dance moves employed by the school cheerleaders at different sporting events and practised them at home each time so I believe I am at least more than decent and ready for the tryout.

Even if I don't make the cut this time, I will try again next time. I'm pretty sure ill make it next time because I would have furthered my dance lessons, which would further enhance my natural talents.

"Did you get that?", the teacher said cutting into my thoughts.
"Yes ma'am ", scattered choruses came from around the class but the teacher seemed satisfied with the answer because she smiled satisfactorily.

I had lunch then 2 more classes to go before school ended and then I would have to wait for an hour before tryouts start. I am beginning to feel overcome by impatience and excitement and a little bit of nervousness, I can't wait to show everyone how talented I am.

.

To be honest, lunch gave me PTSD after what happened last time. I feel weird walking into the cafeteria,  it feels like everyone around me is talking about me. They probably are because high school students would hang on to the tiniest bit of gossip just to keep their lives interesting or they aren't and I'm not as important as I imagined.

What made it worse for me was that Tyler was always at the cafeteria and even if I could avoid him during classes, I can't avoid him at the cafeteria. The table he sat at with his friends was directly near the door so when you enter, you'd see them and I saw them (him) every damn time.

The more I saw him, the more he ignored me and the more I felt embarrassed. I didn't even think that it was possible to feel more embarrassed than I did that day. Why did I do what I did? Things could have been much better. We probably wouldn't be besties but at least we'd be friends and he'd wave at me from his table when I entered instead of ignoring my existence as he did now.

If I thought it couldn't get worse, it did because it seemed like Tyler and Linda's relationship had grown far stronger. They literally went everywhere together and did everything together and for once, there seemed to be no toxicity or fakeness around their relationship.

'Well', I thought as I went to get myself something to eat, 'at least, tryouts this evening will brighten up my day'.

* * * * *
I couldn't help but smile as I put my headphones on and turned up NF, my favourite musician. NF is my solace.

Classes are over for the day and now I have to wait for an hour before the tryouts start. I decided to text my mom to remind her that I was going to get home late. My mom sometimes would overreact over the smallest things and it would be entirely her fault.  That's why I always have to remind my mom about stuff.

"Hey Mom"

"Hey, baby. Are you already on your way home from school?"

I knew it,  this is exactly why I have to text my mom. She had forgotten already.

"Mom, remember I told you I was staying later for cheerleading tryouts."

"Oh yeah, that's true. Stay safe. Love you."

"Alright, Mom. Love you too."

.

"Alright, gather around everyone ", Linda screamed.

The funny thing was we were already standing together and in order. I have a feeling she just enjoys saying that.

"We're literally already gathered", I heard the next girl say to her friend.

"So, I assume you all know what you're here for. You're trying out for the cheerleading team.", Sophia started.

"And mind you, we don't really need more members,  we're just doing this out of custom so if you don't make the cut, you don't. No niceties or lowering the bar for anyone this year.", Linda continued.

"Yes exactly.  So show us what you've got. You'll get tags so you'll know the order in which you'll perform. This means if you're next, I expect you to have prepared the song you want to play. Once it's your turn, you'll waste no time and just connect to the speaker and start to show us what you've got", Sophia concluded.

One of the cheerleaders brought out the speaker and started connecting it while Linda started handing out tags. I was number #10. We were 15 in number.

After about 10 minutes, the tryouts started. I felt discouraged after the first 5 people tried because Linda and Sophia were being extra mean just as promised. The first 5 people weren't even halfway done with the routine they practised when they were disqualified. What made me even more nervous was the fact that I believed those first 5 were good even from the little I saw.

Time went by in a flash, literally because no one lasted more than a minute before Linda and Sophia disqualified them. Before I knew it, it was her turn.

My heart was beating twice as fast now. I was very nervous and my palms were sweaty. This was a new feeling for me, I'm usually not a nervous person.

I connected my phone's Bluetooth to the speaker, I had picked an upbeat soundtrack beforehand. Linda and Sophia seemed to relax their stance when I took the stage or was it my imagination?

"Alright show us what you've got, Lauretta."

I couldn't help but think that was another good sign, they'd been calling people by their number tags, and I was the first they'd called by name. Maybe I didn't imagine the fact that they relaxed their stance after all.

My soundtrack lasts 5 minutes and I had already danced for 4 minutes 30 seconds yet Linda and Sophia hadn't stopped my dance. I couldn't believe it.

"Wow, that was great, Lauretta. ", Linda said

"Thank you", I said while struggling to breathe.

"Were those the same moves you tried on my man?", Linda said smirking.

"What?", I asked dumbfounded.  He told her.

Before I could even process what was happening, I heard laughing behind me, I turned back and saw the entire male sports team standing behind me.

.

"What were those dance moves?", someone shouted

"Linda I thought you said we were here for the cheerleader tryout. What did we just see?"

"Can I unsee that?"

"Does anyone have bleach? I need to wash my eyes out?"

Those were some of the jabs thrown at me. I had to run out of the place, I couldn't stand it. I can't believe I was played like that.

Tyler didn't say anything but his standing there laughing was more than enough for me. He did give me a heads up though.

It probably meant my dancing wasn't bad and they were just being mean.

I'd been crying a lot lately. I sincerely hoped today would be the last time I cried because of any of those horrible people. I will show them. They should expect my glow-up soon.

Thank you all for sticking with me. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Tag for the chapter: Stormy_K

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