Chapter Three, Practice, Practice, Practice

As the day of the Swan Lake performance crept closer the more practices Miss Antoinette put on, along with that Savannah Smith was also putting on more practices as she wanted them to compete in the championship this year now that she knew where they had been going wrong, so Imogen had to divide her time as equally as she could between the two, school, spending time with her friends and her Dad, and her homework. Thankfully a week had passed since the new school year had started and she was more than used to her rather full and hectic routine by now. Plus, Cheerleading was held after schools on Mondays and Fridays and Ballet was held after school on Thursday and a Saturday morning so she still had plenty of time to fit everything in, including having a downtime to herself where she re-read Harry Potter and wrote her stories (not including hiking with Ella, shopping with Ella and Leah, and surfing with Leah and the guys on the Rez).

She had also become good friends with the Cullens/Hales (minus Edward who just glared at her all the time and made her uncomfortable), she had been pleasantly surprised the first day of school when they had stayed behind to watch the practice and even brought tickets to Swan Lake; and would now accompany her on hikes (Jasper) and shopping (the girls) and Emmett had introduced her and Ella to some video games. However, every time she thought of or locked eyes with Jasper she couldn't help but blush a bright cherry red, which Emmett and Ella loved to tease her over.

At first it had started off as embarrassment when she had first walked into the office that very first day, but as the day had progressed she had started to, not fully let her guard down, but relax a little with the southern teen. He had a wicked sense of humour, he was a gentleman, he had more empathy in his little finger than most of the teens (both boys and girls) in this town had in their whole body, he was charming and kind, and always tried to make her, Ella and his sisters smile and laugh.

She had however, noticed they didn't talk to anyone besides themselves, herself and Ella but she honestly couldn't blame them as the rest of the school fawned over them, and it wasn't her business anyway. Back to Jasper, Imogen was a little shocked at how they just seemed to click as cliche as that sounded and the bonus, he didn't drool over her or any of the other girls in their cheer outfits like the other guys of the school (except Emmett who adored Rosalie so much it was like looking at a romantic movie. As for Edward he just creeped her and Ella out).

'Okay, I think I may have a teeny tiny crush on Jasper Hale. But at least it's not only for his porcelain skin, fit physique, curly honey blonde hair and amber eyes like the other girls at school.' Imogen thought, as she ran a brush through her hair after pinning a section back. "I'm just going to be friends. If it goes somewhere later on, so be it; but for now that's it." Imogen muttered to herself, fanning her cheeks as she finished getting ready for school.
Checking in the mirror to make sure she hadn't spilt anything on her black turtle neck top and blue three-quarter length jeans; satisfied there was nothing she slipped on her back combat boots and checkered peacoat and grabbed her bags.
"Sun - perfect timing, sweetheart." Charlie beamed, spotting his daughter at the top of the stairs, with Ella standing beside him.

Ella wore similar clothing to her best friend with a brown peacoat, the same turtle neck top, indigo coloured jeans, black ankle boots and her pin-straight inky tresses up in a high ponytail which was braided into a short fishtail braid.
"Ready to go?" Ella queried, a cheeky eyebrow raised towards her, promising Imogen that they'll talk about Jasper on the walk to school causing Imogen to groan internally.
"Yep. See you later, Dad. Have a good day and be careful." Imogen bid, kissing his cheek.
"Always am. Have a good day at school and cheer practice, girls. See you tonight sunshine, dinner at the diner?" Charlie asked his daughter, standing in the doorway watching them as they headed down the garden path.

"Thanks Charlie, have a good day too."
"Thanks Dad, it sounds perfect." The girls said simultaneously, waving to Charlie as they journeyed up the road.
"Right, spill. You like Jasper don't you?" Ella demanded a giddy gleam to her eyes.
"I barely know him, El." Imogen refuted with a fond eye roll but that didn't stop her cheeks from turning scarlet.
"Oh, yeah? Tell that to your cheeks!" Ella teased, wrapping Imogen's arm around her own.
"Oh shut up." Imogen moaned, letting out a sigh. "Fine. I think I do but I don't know him so it's better to start as friends and if something happens it happens." She confided in her best friend.

"Immy, I could tell from that day in the car park that that boy liked you. Trust me, I'm your best friend and have never and would never lie to you." Ella insisted.
"Okay now it's your turn." Imogen interjected, looking beseechingly at Ella.
"Fine." Ella sighed dramatically, throwing her hand over her forehead causing the pair to descend into giggles. "I like Leah. Do you think there could be anything there?" She fretted unsurely. If anyone could know it would be Imogen who was best friends with Leah the pair had been friends longer than even Ella and Imogen.
"El," Imogen pulled them to a stop, staring at her best friend so she could convey what she had to say to the best of her ability. "Leah likes you but never wanted to say anything as she's a year older than us." She hinted truthfully.

"Trust me, I'd be so happy if my two best girl friends, my sisters, got together." Imogen chimed gleefully, beaming brighter than even the sun in this little dreary town.
"Well then," Ella breathed with relief, a blush coating her sun-kissed skin. "It would be my honour to make my sister happy." She giggled. The pair giggling all the way to school only just making it into the car park before the first bell went off.
"Are you alright?" Jasper and Rosalie expressed worriedly, as soon as they had spotted the pair. Rosalie liked the two humans; they reminded her of her little sisters from when she was human and caused a fierce protective desire to surge within her for both girls, even if only Imogen was Jasper's mate.
"We're fine, just had some girl talk and got distracted." Ella assured them, smirking when both Jasper and Imogen looked away shyly.

"I told you." Alice chimed, causing Rosalie and Jasper to roll their eyes while Emmett cackled at them. He knew Jasper had it bad for the little ball of sunshine. Although, he had to admit he was very protective of her himself.
"Come on, love, girls." Storm crooned, slipping the over-sized sunglasses over her eyes and linking arms with Alice and Imogen's free arm as they headed for class causing Jasper to sigh with frustration, as this had quickly become the norm. "You snooze, you lose Jasper." Storm teased, wiggling her fingers at him causing barely there sparks of lighting to play around her fingers in a teasingly threatening way.
"I can't wait to see you in Swan Lake, darling." Jasper professed, a proud smile on his face. "And you were amazing at your last cheer practice. Both of you were." He added.

"Thanks Jazz." Ella and Imogen replied simultaneously.
"That's freaky when you both do that." Emmett whined dramatically.
"Aww Emmett you wound us!"
"Stop that!" He yelped, causing them all to laugh, ignoring the looks they were getting from the other students and the scoff Edward had let out as he barged passed them.
"Oh, I can't wait for your performance of Swan Lake, it's going to be amazing. You'll be amazing. And it's only next week, can it just hurry up." Alice sighed wistfully.
"Yep. Practice, practice, practice." Imogen reiterated, she was feeling nervous but excited for it and didn't want it to come any quicker otherwise she feared the butterflies in her stomach would consume her.

"You'll do amazing, Immy. Don't be nervous, all you have to do is try your best and we're already proud of you." Emmett assured, squeezing her shoulder gently.
"Thanks Em." Imogen whispered softly, feeling incredibly touched as Jasper pulled her into a hug and Rosalie squeezed her hand.
"Right this is us, Rosie." Emmett sighed, heading towards math with Rosalie's hand in his own. "See you later." He bid the others goodbye.
"Bye Emmett."
"Immy's birthday is a week after that too." Ella added.
"What?!" Jasper and Emmett yelled, Emmett and Rosalie running back over to them, ignoring the teacher calling them back  
"Why didn't you say anything?" Jasper asked softly, tucking a stray strand behind her ear.
"I don't like to make a big thing out of it." Imogen muttered lowly, while Ella gave them all a glare telling them to drop it.

'I'll tell you all later.' Ella mouthed. The Cullens nodded and let it go as Jasper could tell Imogen was troubled and knew something had happened to his sweet sunshine. Despite knowing Imogen didn't want a fuss, Ella thought it would be a good idea as she needed others to prove to her that what her mother and sister said and did to her was wrong, she did deserve to be loved and spoiled once in a while. And she knew Imogen wouldn't really be angry with her as she trusted Ella's judgement and knew she wasn't the type to spread things around about her best friend.

Imogen was like a sister to Ella, so she would do everything in her power to make Imogen see she wasn't worthless or unloveable or whatever other hateful lies had been spewed at her since she last told her. Ella still remembered the time when Imogen called her in floods of tears after Renee had come to pick Bella up a year ago and had called her sweet best friend a freak amongst other things after Bella had pushed her down the stairs, and she never wanted Immy to go through that again and she would be damned if she did. The Cullens, knowing something bad had happened, nodded agreeing to leave it for now as they all headed to their separate classes. They knew Ella was planning something and would agree to go along with what the Spanish girl had planned, for no one knew Immy better (at the moment) then Ella.