Chapter 4-Lucky Charm

After I agree to wear the maroon and gold jersey, I return to the stadium, along with a very enthusiastic Spencer who's grinning like an idiot. Once the crowd sees us, they all cheer and jump like little kids who found Santa after being told he's not real. I look at Adriana and find her smiling proudly at me, like she knew all along.

Most of the girls are cheering, though a lot of them have their pouty, sulky faces on. Give me a break. Do they ever stop fangirling? I don't want to know the answer to that question.

I see Mrs.Liddell standing with the cheerleaders, wearing the same uniform. Oh, dear. Don't tell me she's going to perform something with them. She couldn't, she's around thirty-five years old. Mackenzie is the head cheerleader, so that means that she's absent today. Or can't perform. That's weird, I remember seeing her in the morning and having a silent staring contest with her. Plus, she's never unable to do these stunts. One time, she broke her wrist, and still did her cheerleading. I mean, surely her doctor, or her mom, told her not to?

One good thing about being the Lucky Charm for the day is that you get one of the best seats in the whole place. You also get another seat for someone else. For me, it's Adriana, of course.

Spencer leaves me with a pirate salute and I roll my eyes. What is he, five? I giggle, though which is weird, since I don't do that a lot. I'm sure you've already guessed that I'm not the type of girl that cheerleads or does the usual things, anymore. I used to, but something happened 13 years ago that changed me, and scarred me forever. I see Adriana walking towards me, and she sit down on the seat beside me. She seems to sense my changing mood, and tries to flip it again. She's everything a best friend could, and should be. She looks a little weird, though. She has a wide grin plastered on her face.

"So, what happened with Spencer?" Ah, so that's the reason to her stupid grin.

I shrug, "Nothing, really. I rode my bike and was just about to leave, when I found him stopping me and asking me to wear the jersey." I don't tell her about the way he looked almost like a child, afraid of rejection. I couldn't have told her if I wanted to anyway, since the crowd cheers and whistles. But that doesn't stop her from trying to tell me something, which is hopeless. Apparently there's a goal. When I look at the field, I'm not surprised to see it's Spencer who made it and is currently running around, smiling. But I'm surprised when he stops, points at me, and yells my name, making the whole crowd chant my name. I hide my face in my hands, blushing. Does he not understand that I don't like attention? Or at least, I don't like it from these people.

We watch for a while until it's halftime, which means that it's time for the cheerleaders to perform. Oh, dear. It's time for Mrs.Liddell's show. They do the normal stuff-Singing, waving the pom-poms around, dancing. Then they carry the lightest-looking cheerleaders, including Mrs.Liddell. They do an intricate dance in which Mrs.Liddell is lifted high and is standing on their hands. They do the same with two others, then someone under our librarian raises her higher until she's triple her height. The entire population is muttering ooh's and ahh's and probably praying she doesn't fall. When they finish that, they're in a pyramid, with the guys at the very bottom. I can't believe guys would do this kind of stuff. Oh my goodness! She isn't done yet! I can see her fidgeting at the top of the pyramid, trying to raise a leg. I really hope she doesn't fall.

Next, she bends slightly and raises her foot higher, until she looks like a lollipop sort of thing. You know, the one that is flat and has swirls on it. Oh, wait! She looks more like a....scorpion! How did they think of that? The school mascot. What she's doing is incredible, yet dangerous. Right now I'm sitting on the edge of my seat, like I'll catch her if she falls. As I look around, I find that everyone is doing the same thing. We can't help it, we're so caught up in the show that if the fire alarm started ringing, we'd probably be sitting in the same spot, mesmerised.

She abruptly releases her leg, and we all gasp. By now, everyone is silent and trying to lower their heartbeat. We're such sissies. If we're not doing anything and already losing our calm, then how would she feel on top of the pyramid? I would probably be shaking so much that I'd lose my balance and topple to my death. Adriana is gripping my hand like a handcuff, but I don't mind, since I was doing the same to hers, without realising.

Step by step, they all descend, lower and lower. Making our heartbeats go higher and higher. When she's sitting on some bulky guy's shoulders, she raises her thumbs and we all stand, clapping. Even the students that came from the opposing school clap. Dang, that lady is flexible for a 35-year old. Heck, she's flexible for any age. I'm fairly flexible, but I can't do anything near that.

Afterwards, they all hold hands the old-fashioned way and raise them as we clap again. Then, the game continues and the score is 16-20. 20 fur us and 16 for the Bulldogs.

A quarter passes and they score 2 points. It’s getting intense here. You can tell because the crowd’s voice is getting lower, though still loud. We need to give them more motivation.

I decide to clap, but the crowd is too loud. I stand and wave the poster I had previously made. It says the word scorpions. I know, not creative, but I wasn't meant to be an artist.

Adriana stands beside me and starts yelling encouraging words. I join her, and soon, everyone does. “Who are the champions?” Adriana and I yell.

“The Scorpions!” The crowd replies. We go like this for some time before our statements become true at the last second. We finally win this game!

Spencer takes off his jersey and runs around. Suddenly, I’m furious. Who does he think he is? Does he think that he can just do whatever he wants, even if he gives poor, unsuspecting girls hope?

“Alessa! We did it!” Adriana raises her hand for a high five, and I high-five her. This did a little bit to improve my mood, though I still feel a bit angry at Spencer for being the player he is.

Someone will just have to do something about it.