23||Practice makes perfect

"Line!" I called out.

"Are you kidding me?" Kimberly groaned. "You have three lines total. It should be easy to memorize!"

"Sorry we're not all professionals like you," I rolled my eyes.

"Calm down, calm down," Mrs. Faye said. "Let's take five."

"Thank you," I sighed. All I wanted to do was get out of this ridiculous costume and go home to eat some Chinese takeout. For someone who only had three lines they sure had me dressed to the hilt. My dress was laced up so tight I could hardly breathe. How could anyone possibly survive dressed like this?

"Where's Aubrey?" The theater doors burst open and Britney stormed in followed by the rest of cheer team.

"You were supposed to be at cheer practice thirty minutes ago!" She yelled.

"That's treinta in Spanish," Emery says haughtily.

I rolled my eyes. "I had play practice. I told you."

"Much more important than jumping around in skimpy little skirts," Kimberly said snootily. Britney whipped toward her."

"Excuse me? Was I talking to you?"

"I'm sure there's a way we can calmly resolve this," Mrs. Faye stepped in.

"Yeah there is!" Britney shouted. "Aubrey needs to quit the play!"

"Wait what?" I shook my head. "I can't quit. The play is part of my grade."

"Unfortunately that's not an option," Mrs. Faye shook her head.

"I can't believe you think she'd risk her grade for cheerleading," Kimberly glares at Britney. I rest a hand on her shoulder.

"Kim for your sake and mine I think you should stop talking."

"Fine. Don't miss practice tommorow!" Britney turns and marches out of the gym. Nikole and Chanel shoot me apologetic looks as they follow her.

"How do you deal with her?" Kim asks.

I rub my forehead. "I don't know."

🎭🎭🎭

I'm the first in the gym Wednesday morning. I guess I was earlier than I thought.

With no one else in the gym I decided to listen to some music while waiting for everyone else to arrive. I plugged up my phone to the speakers and searched for a song. "It's all about me" by Chelsea Staub popped up.

My childhood!

I pressed play and pretended like I was her from Bratz. I was on the stage anyway and no one was here yet.

"Don't hate me cause I got it going on
It's just me, I'm hot never cold
I can rock it anyway that I choose
I'm so good oh yeah
I make up all the rules."

I really started getting into my dance, as if I was performing for an audience. I was so absorbed in my act I hadn't even noticed someone else had entered the theater.

"Wow," said an amused voice. "You can't get any more vainer than that."

"Carter!" I yelled and quickly paused the song. "How long have you been standing there?"

He smirked. "Long enough to witness your little performance."

I opened my mouth but no words came out. I felt my face heat up.

"Too bad I didn't record it," he sighed. "I probably could've made Worldstar."

"Shut up," I said, unable to think of anything else to say.

"By all means continue," he sat down. "Don't stop because of me. It was actually kinda hot in a conceited, full of yourself sorta way."

I wanted to throw something at his head. He was most definitely making fun of me. Before I could react the theater doors opened again and the rest of the class streamed in.

Carter winked at me. "Don't worry love. It'll be our little secret."

I flipped him off. However my heart jumped at the nickname.

Since I only had three lines I spent most of my time backstage. Usually I just sat on my phone but today I went through the costume racks. They actually had some cute dresses and there were two big feathers that would've went great with my earlier morning performance.

After I grew bored of looking through the costumes I decided to actually watch the practice. Carter was up on stage reciting his lines.

I wondered what it would be like if he liked me back and we started dating. Would he treat me differently? Could he ever even see me as a girlfriend?

Or would I forever be stuck in the friendzone? 

😪😪😪

"One, two, three,
Not only you and me.
Got 180 degrees and I'm caught in-between.
Countin' one, two, three...
Peter, Paul and Mary.
Getting down with 3P, everybody loves me... Uh!
Countin!"

I swung my hips and dropped coming back up, twirling before landing a splits.

"Emery!" Britney yelled. "You forgot to twirl!"

"I'm sorry!" She threw her arms up.

"Stunt formation!" She yelled.

I ran to the front and my spotters got in position behind me. They lifted me up and I did a toe touch. There was a slight pause before I was thrown into a toss then set back down.

I stretched and Britney called a break. Chanel and Nikole came up to me.

"How's the play going?" Chanel asked.

I shrugged. "Fine. I'm not really on stage much since I have three lines so I'm mostly on my phone."

Or watching Carter.

But they didn't need to know that.

"Are you excited for opening night?"

"Meh," I shrugged again. "I guess."

"Show a little enthusiasm!" Chanel shakes me.

"There's nothing to be enthusiastic about. It's just a stupid play I have to do if I wanna pass English this term."

"True that," Nikole nods.

"Come one where's the spirit?" Chanel waves her arms. "The- Trevor!"

She squeals and runs toward her boyfriend. The basketball team has just finished practice and are coming through the gym to get to the locker room. Chanel throws her arms around him and they kiss.

"They're so cute," Nikole sighs. "Don't you think?"

"Mhm," I say distractedly watching Carter. I'm beginning to feel like a creep always watching him. OMG. I'm turning into Jason Dunce!

I turn to look at Nikole and she's smirking at me.

"What?" I ask defensively.

"You've so got it bad."

"I do not!"

"Ladies now is not the time to get distracted!" Britney shouts. "We're going to practice again from the top!"

Nikole blows a kiss at Ryan and he winks at her before entering the guys locker room. Then she jogs over to the rest of the cheer team with me following slowly behind her.

Short chapter I know.

QOTD: favorite Disney movie?

The Lion King. Seriously nothing can beat that movie. It's just that legendary.

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