SEPTEMBER

"You know what's awesome about having a free period?" Yolie asked, sitting beside me on the bleachers.

"What?" I replied, keeping my attention forward, smiling a bit when the boys cheered after the football arced through the air and it was caught at the far end of the field. Yolie didn't say anything again and I didn't bother turning. I was just admiring the football practice we caught wind of from one of the cheerleaders at lunch.

Realizing that she hadn't spoken, Yolie finally spoke up again. "This," she confirmed. "This is what's awesome."

I couldn't agree more. Being able to sit on the bleachers a whole period to watch the football teams: Varsity and JV. The best part was seeing the Varsity players having a practice scrimmage where the boys weren't fully suited up but did have to wear their helmets.

My gaze lingered on Zade backing up as he was getting ready to throw the ball. He shouted something, pointing at another player then threw the football. It was beautiful to watch. Just as much as the nicely formed arms of his whenever they moved. I touched my lip, frowning to make sure I wasn't drooling. I glanced at Yolie but she wasn't paying attention to me. She was too busy looking at the boys.

"We definitely owe Marcy a Starbucks card or something for this tip." I had mumbled, not expecting Yolie to hear me but she mumbled back, "Definitely."

Why was this so special you might ask? Because there was a special time during practice when the boys got a break, and some would take off their shirts to lounge around for half an hour. Unfortunately for me, I had been in classes last year when that amazing moment happened so by the time I would get outside to the bleachers, the boys would have their shirts back on. It was a stupid rule the Cheer Coach insisted on because she didn't want her girls getting distracted again. Psh! How is that the boys' fault? And why should the rest of us suffer because the cheerleaders couldn't stop being horn dogs?

I happened to look over where the cheerleaders normally practiced. They were currently on a mile run outside of school but once they got back they'd be practicing in that spot. Which meant that the impending shirtless miracle should be happening sometime soon.

"Ow!" I frowned at Yolie, leaning away from her. "What the hell did you hit me for?"

Yolie was blindly reaching for me and pointing at the field with this big grin on her face. I frowned at her, not appreciating her enthusiasm and turned to the field. I realized now why she was so excited. Coach Fargle just called for a thirty minute break. And the boys just removed their helmets, some already stripping off their shirts. Yolie and I grinned at one another.

A few of the boys—Zade included—reached behind them and yanked off their shirts, using the dry areas to wipe the sweat from their faces. I smiled, admiring from this distance how good Zade looked. You could tell he worked hard to stay in shape. And with his complexion? Yum.

Pursing my mouth to the side, I narrowed my eyes as I thought over my goal for this year. How I wanted for Zade to notice me. Hopefully, talking would lead to getting to know one another long enough for me to ask him out.

Biting my lip, I decided to take action. "C'mon!" I smacked Yolie—partly to get back at her—and stood up, grabbing my backpack and hurried down the bleachers. With the pace I was going, my feet made a ruckus; the metal vibrating as I went down the steps.

Since it was a break for the boys, I figured I'd use it to my advantage and wander onto the field. Yolie was now beside me as I was scanning for a familiar face in the crowd. One of the boys downing water was in my fourth period Science class so I figured I'd go talk to him. Bonus? He was right near Zade.

I nudged Yolie and muttered, "Follow me." and led the way over to Jimmy.

"Hi, Jimmy!" I smiled, tilting my head as I flipped my hair off my shoulder.

Jimmy's brows rose, blinking at me as his eyes scanned down my person. I pretended not to notice. Jimmy swallowed, "Hey—Hey, Daisy. How's it going?"

I shrugged. "It's okay. Yolie and I," I gestured to my friend. "Have a free period this semester so we thought we'd hang out here to watch you guys play."

Jimmy weakly grinned, glancing at another friend beside him who looked just as nervous. I grinned a bit, knowing that with my level of popularity, it meant that I was one of those girls the boys wished to talk to. I could use it to my advantage now with hopes that I can work up the nerve to talk to Zade.

"You guys look pretty good this year," Yolie added, winking at Jimmy's friend. The boy blushed.

I nodded, crossing my arms and shrugged that I just might have to keep coming to the games. Jimmy's friend raised a brow, inquiring what I meant by 'keep coming to the games'. Yolie scoffed and informed the boy that I was always at the football games. That my school spirit was what hyped up the crowd each game.

My best friend raised a brow, me noticing she spoke a little louder, "Don't you remember last year when the crowd would start chanting names every quarter?"

The boys blinked, nodding a bit and Yolie rested an elbow on my shoulder. She jabbed her thumb in my direction. "My girl here is responsible for that. She likes to get the crowd pumped up for you guys."

"That was you?" someone spoke up.

My eyes went wide, recognizing the voice. And my confidence level just dropped a notch.

Yolie, the boys and I turned to Zade tuning into our conversation. Go Yolie!

Zade nodded for the guys he was speaking to, to join him as they walked over to us. Jimmy nudged Zade, saying how it was awesome to hear the crowd hype the team up that way. Jimmy grinned at me. "Now we know why!"

I blushed, pretending that Zade wasn't looking at me and I shrugged, "Oh, you know... It's the least I can do! I don't have any talent to be a cheerleader so I just cheer from the stands instead!"

"Could have proved me wrong," Zade pointed out. I met his gaze. Those beautiful dark warm brown eyes. I felt a blush rising again.

"What do you mean?" I asked, twisting a finger around the end of a strand of my hair.

Zade glanced at this, grinning a bit before meeting my gaze again. He nodded, "Yeah, I mean... I thought it was pretty amazing that the crowd got so pumped like that, despite us losing that game. But it worked! We were able to use that energy to put into our playing time."

Some of the boys around him nodded, muttering in agreement. I was so elated that Zade noticed me! He noticed me! I realized my confidence was rising again. Perfect.

Biting my lip, I stepped forward and playfully teased up his forearm, telling him to stop making it a big deal. Zade grinned, laughing that he wouldn't if it didn't deserve praise. He thanked me for helping out. "Guess you were a cheerleader after all," he said.

"Well..." I peered at him through my lashes, giving him a coy look as I stepped closer and caressed my finger up his forearm to poke him gently in the center of his bare chest. Zade's brows rose, chin lowering as I got closer.

I tried to give a sultry tone when I teased, "You can count on me to be your personal cheerleader then."

Zade's brow rose as his friends whistled and nudged him. I smiled, proud of myself for the boost of confidence I got all of a sudden then winked at Zade before turning to Yolie and silently indicating for us to take our leave. First rule to flirting: Quit while ahead. Otherwise, you're just going to come off awkward.

I faced the boys again, stepping backward with Yolie as I told them that we had to get going and that we hoped they had a great practice.

As we were turning, I could hear the boys muttering something while Yolie whispered, "What the hell are we doing? We don't have anywhere to be!"

"Yeah," I agreed, craning my neck forward. "But they don't know that!"

She was confused though my friend trusted me enough to keep walking with me. We didn't even get to the sidelines when Zade shouted, "Hey, hey! Wait a minute!" and Jimmy was calling my name.

I peered over my shoulder with a curious look. I could see Zade saying something to Jimmy who nodded as he replied back. Zade turned and walked forward, waving us closer.

"Daisy!" he smiled. "Do you really need to rush off so soon?"

Pursing my mouth to the side, I looked upward. "Depends..." I raised a brow back at him. "Why do you ask?"

"Ask her, man!" one of the boys called from his distance. Zade turned to shoot him a look before facing me with a smile. He asked if maybe Yolie and I would be willing to stick around for the remainder of practice.

"You know? To cheer us on?" Zade's eyes twinkled. "Bet I'll do a hell of a lot better if my cheerleader was nearby."

Can I just say that I am an idiot for not thinking of doing this years ago? I could really kick my freshman year self's ass right now.

I glanced at a grinning Yolie before tilting my head as I bit my lip back at Zade. Yes, it was a move because Zade's gaze dropped to see me do this. When he looked up at me, he smiled again.

"So what do you say, Daisy? Think you can spare an extra hour or two?" He tossed in that the team would appreciate it. "And it would mean a lot to see a friendly face in the crowd from now on. Considering that it'll be the same friendly face from ninth grade."

My eyes widened, blinking as Zade reached up and tapped my nose. "I can see you know what I'm talking about."

I giggled, playfully grabbing at his hand. I didn't let go of it and he didn't pull away either. Bonus.

"Well..." I paused, glancing down at his hand then up at those brown eyes again. "I guess if Zade Ruiz needs me then how can I pass up something like that?"

Zade grinned, nodding a bit then he glanced at Yolie pretending her nails were interesting. She's the best friend a girl could ask for to give me a moment with my all-time crush.

Zade chuckled when he looked at me again, pulling me closer while whispering that perhaps after practice I could let him take me for a smoothie. "You know... To make up for keeping you from wherever I'm stealing you from."

I was going to die a happy girl. Yes, indeed.

Yolie leaned forward, asking if she'd be getting a smoothie out of this too.

"Yolie!" I gave her a wide-eyed look and she frowned, shrugging, "What? I'm here too!"

Zade laughed, nodding that yes, Yolie could get a smoothie too. That him and some of his teammates would be getting smoothies later. He mentioned that tonight was his day off from work so it would work out.

"Hey, Jimmy!" Zade suddenly called over his shoulder and the mentioned boy turned. "She's in!"

My brows rose when Jimmy was now the one being nudged and then figured maybe it was because of Yolie joining us.

Zade turned to me and grinned, "Alright then, Cheerleader. We'll see you after practice. And don't forget we owe you!"

He slipped his hand from mine and I watched him head back to his teammates. Jimmy was a bit excited and I thought I heard him say, "Thanks, Z!" as he slapped a hand on Zade's shoulder. Zade nodded, looking over his shoulder at us. I weakly grinned, waving then frowned when he turned away. I blinked, looking at Yolie who had the same stunned look on her face.

"What just happened...?" I asked, still frowning at her.

Yolie blinked a few times, her brow rising slowly. Her nose scrunched as she mumbled, "I... I think Zade got Jimmy a date." She looked at me. "With you."

I was afraid of that. Second rule of flirting: Make sure your target knows he's the target.