Clash of the Cheerleaders

1

Finally—it was my sixteenth birthday! And tonight was going to be fun. I didn’t know what I was going to be doing yet, but I knew it would be fun. My boyfriend, Blaine, who just happens to be our high school football team’s star player, was taking me out for the night. He wouldn’t tell me what we were doing, just to have my long bronze hair pulled back and to bring a jacket.

Blaine. Even his name was perfect. He had fine blond hair with a slight curl to every tendril, and ripped football-player muscles outlining his tall, gorgeous body.

Maybe he wasn’t the greatest boyfriend—always breaking promises—but just thinking about him made me go weak at the knees.

Blaine asked me out my first day of high school, a little over thirteen months ago. He was only a sophomore then, but already one of the team’s best players. I didn’t even have to think about it before I accepted. If I’d known how forgetful he could be when it comes to doing what he says he will, I might have said no. It never felt good to be stood up or have his friends chosen over me, but something about him always drew me back in, like a drug. Being with him—being his girlfriend—just felt amazing.

Given what an important night this was, he couldn’t stand me up this time. I’d planned my party for tomorrow—Saturday night—which probably worked better for the guests, anyway. But that wasn’t why I did it. It was so I could spend my actual birthday with Blaine. It’s what he wanted, and he promised to make it a night I would never forget.

I walked over to my closet and opened the sliding door. Pink or black? I asked myself as I considered which of the two jackets would best match the skinny jeans and white shirt I was wearing. Black always made my brown eyes look lighter, so I grabbed that one and walked out of my room.

Since I didn’t know if Blaine and I would be eating later, I went downstairs to eat a few baby carrots and chips. He would be here any minute, so I knew I had to hurry. I couldn’t wait to hear his Civic pulling up outside!

My cell phone rang on the other side of our stone-walled kitchen. I made a dash for the counter where I’d left it. Hello?

Hey, babe, Blaine’s voice said on the other end of the line.

Are you on your way over?

Not exactly… His voice got distant when he said something to someone else and started laughing along with his friends, and I knew. I knew what he was about to say. I knew the terrible letdown that was coming.

Blaine!

Sorry, Heath keeps doing this wild thing where he twists his arms behind his back and tosses something over his head and catches it in his mouth—

Are you over at his house right now? I could just see him in Heath’s messy living room, cracking open a soda, waiting for the pizza delivery boy, while I was left alone… forgotten…

No, I’m at Joey’s. That’s why I called. He’s having the team over to watch a game and everyone expects me to be here, so I can’t miss it.

You promised me. This is my sixteenth birthday, the biggest birthday of my life. You can’t back out on me tonight.

I know, and I promise I’ll make it up to you, Hadley. I just called so you would know why I didn’t come over. You said you wanted me to call when I couldn’t make it.

Yeah, and I also said I wanted you to stop doing this to me.

Look, I’ll be at your party tomorrow night and we can talk about it then, okay?

No. Either keep your promise or don’t bother coming to the party, because you won’t be my boyfriend anymore, and you won’t be welcome over here.

Come on. I hate it when we break up, baby.

Then stop hurting me. Do what you say you will and we won’t have to break up.

You know how much I love you. Can’t you just forgive me this once?

I felt heat rising from my chest to my cheeks as my voice rose with it. No. I’ve forgiven you a hundred times and you just keep doing the same thing! This is it. Keep our date or we’re through for good. I mean it this time, Blaine.

The team needs me. They can’t have a game night without their star player. He obviously wasn’t going to change his mind.

I took a deep breath and tried to lower my voice—and my heart rate—before I said, Well I can’t have a boyfriend who always puts me last. Tears flooded my eyes as I hung up the phone.

How could he be so heartless? Here I was, on the night of my sixteenth birthday, left all alone with a broken heart, yet again.

This has to stop, I croaked as a tear rolled over my cheek and into the corner of my mouth. I am done. Forgetting the carrots and chips, I stomped out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Inside my room, I began looking through drawers, under my bed, in my closet and in my bathroom, searching for every last thing of Blaine’s. The gifts he’d given me. The letters he’d written me. It all had to go. I knew he would try to come to my party tomorrow night. And when he did, I would return everything. Then maybe he would understand that he had hurt me one too many times. I had to draw the line somewhere and this was it.

I was done with Blaine Marksen.

2

Saturday afternoon. I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My hair and makeup were perfection. It had taken forever to conceal the pink, puffy sadness blotched all over my face from crying off and on all day.

I would have to tell Nicole and the other girls about Blaine. It was humiliating every time we broke up. I hated the way they all felt sorry for me, except for Nicole. Any sympathy she showed was about as real as the nose on her face, courtesy of the best plastic surgeon in the state.

Once upon a time, Nicole was a lot of fun. She was the best friend I could have ever asked for as a kid. Those days felt more like a fairy tale now, a mythical story from our past. Anyone who didn’t know her then probably wouldn’t even believe it.

Like her two college-attending sisters, all she cared about was herself and her social status. On top of that, since she’s the head of our cheer squad, she was convinced that everything we cheerleaders did reflected on her. That meant she set the standards we were forced to follow.

I decided to head downstairs and check on my Aunt Madeline. My mom was in New York on a weekend business trip and had left her in charge of chaperoning my party. I know my mom trusts me not to let anything get out of hand, but she couldn’t say the same for every other kid that would be there. I didn’t really mind, anyway. Aunt Madeline’s cool. She’d go home when the guests were all gone, leaving me and my girls to our after-party-slumber-party. Now that was something to look forward to.

What are you doing? I asked my aunt when I saw her at the bottom of our sweeping staircase. She tore a long strip of yellow Caution: Do Not Enter tape off the giant roll in her hand and tied it around one of the outward-curving end banisters. Two more already made a giant X at the bottom.

Aunt Madeline stood up and shook her dark hair out of her face. Just making sure no-one goes up that’s not supposed to. She tore another strip off and started tying it higher up on the banister.

Don’t you think my friends might think it’s a little strange? I asked.

Actually, I was thinking it’ll look like a cool crime scene out of a movie to your friends. To us, it’s an insurance policy that no-one goes messing around upstairs.

She made a good point.

I climbed carefully over the tape and went through the sliding back door onto our small deck. It was just big enough for the band to set up. Hey, guys, I said to the drummer and two guitarists. We’d all known each other since junior high.

Hey, Hadley, Gage said. He was the lead singer, a spiky-haired blond with a carefree attitude. Thanks again for having us play at your party.

No problem. You guys are the best. Plus, Nicole might’ve flipped out and refused to even come if I didn’t get you to play.

The guys laughed, even though I was absolutely serious.

I stepped down onto the lawn next to see how thing were going. The caterers already had two rows of tables set up and were carrying plates to them. An older Chinese man nodded to me as he walked by with a basket full of wrapped chopsticks. The row of tables on my right would have sushi, fried rice, egg rolls, and other traditional Chinese food. The other row would have good old American snack foods, a chocolate fountain surrounded by fruit, and my three-layer chocolate birthday cake. Two smaller tables sat against our tall, privacy fence behind each row. The one behind the Chinese food had party favor bags squished all over the top, while the one behind the American food was empty. That’s where the presents would go.

Usually my mom didn’t spend so much on my birthday, even though she could afford to, but this was my sixteenth birthday party. For a girl, that’s a pretty momentous thing!

She even made a deal with me at the beginning of the school year that if I had all A’s at the end of the semester, she’d buy me a car for Christmas. Nothing too fancy, but nothing too old and clunky either.

Aunt Madeline walked up beside me. So why are you wearing your uniform?

I glanced down at my silver and white cheer uniform. Silver Wing High’s school colors were reminiscent of our mascot, an angel. Nicole wants us to be the entertainment. We’ve been working really hard on putting together a few new dances.

I can’t wait to see it. You know, I always wanted to be a cheerleader when I was younger. I just never possessed any of the talent you do.

Thanks. I turned to stare at the long flowerbox my dad built on the ground against the deck. He’d put it in the day before he died in a four-car pile-up three years ago. It was full of different colored daisies, since those are my favorite. Five enlarged pictures of me hung just above them with spotlights below, ready to illuminate my five faces as soon as it started getting dark. I wish my dad was here.

Madeline put her arm around me. I know, honey. I bet he wishes he could be here, too.

Hey, Hadley, Gage called out. Your doorbell’s ringing.

All right, thanks. I walked past them, through the house, and saw the blurry cheerleaders through the stained glass on the sides of our arched front door. Hey, guys, I said as I opened it.

Is Lavender here yet? Nicole asked, standing in front of Brittany, Steph, and Zaniah, as always.

Nope. You’re the first ones here.

Well, she’s got five minutes before she’s in big trouble. We need to go over our moves before the party starts.

Okay. Let’s do it in my room. My Aunt Madeline’s here, so she can get the door.

Nicole glanced at the box beside my feet. What’s that?

Just Blaine’s junk. He’ll probably try to come to my party tonight, but nobody let him in, okay?

He didn’t show up last night, did he?

My teeth gritted against each other inaudibly. I could just hear the pleasure in her voice. Nope.

So you broke up again?

Yeah, and this time it’s for real.

Good for you. Nicole’s never liked Blaine. She always says it’s because he’s such a jerk, but I don’t think she cares how he treats me. She can be downright ruthless when she wants to and I know she doesn’t care about anyone’s feelings.

An old gray car pulled up in front of my house way too quickly and screeched to a stop. Lavender threw the front passenger door open and ran up my front walkway without even bothering to shut it. Her mother shook her head, looking frustrated, and undid her seatbelt so she could climb over the seats and shut the door. Sorry I’m late. My mom took forever, Lavender said breathlessly.

You’re lucky. We just got here, Nicole said.

I felt bad for Lavender. It was always harder for her to get to our houses, since the rest of us lived in the same neighborhood or the one next to it. Nicole treated her almost as crummy as the other four girls on the squad, who hadn’t even been invited to our final practice before the party.

Come on; I’ve got the song lineup already saved to my phone, I said, turning to go upstairs to my room.

3

Nicole was leading the way down the stairs when we heard the first party guest ring the doorbell, and guess who it was? I ran past Nicole toward the door and opened it to find Blaine on the other side, holding a bunch of white and silver balloons in one hand and a giant gift bag in the other.

My heart must have skipped a beat when our eyes met. His blue eyes were so, so beautiful. He looked really stunning with the pink sunset behind him.

Happy Birthday, Hadley, he said, holding everything out to me.

What’s he doing here? Nicole said with a sneer as she crossed her arms beside me.

I don’t know, I said casually, even though I was freaking out inside. "What are you doing here, Blaine?"

It’s your birthday. I’m here to celebrate with you.

I fought to hold back tears, because I really didn’t want to say what I knew I had to say. All I really wanted to do was forget what he did the night before and spend my party on his arm, but I absolutely refused. No, my birthday was last night, and you’re not welcome at this party. I’d say you could go hang out with your precious football team. You know—the ones that just can’t live without you, but they’ll probably be here innn…. I glanced at my watch without really looking at it. …just a few minutes. I know you’re the star player, but I’m sure they’ll be able to party just fine without you.

Blaine stared at me with his mouth hanging open. There had been so many times I’d wanted to, but I’d never actually spoken to him like that. The confidence it gave me felt great. Of course, I knew the back-up surrounding me was feeding it, and I was glad they would still be there for me later that night.

I reached out to take the balloons and gift bag from him. Thanks. I’ll just put these with the others. And lucky you, I got you something, too. Nicole— I looked over at Nicole, who was positively gloating as she picked up Blaine’s box and handed it to him.

Here you go. Thanks for stopping by, she said before she shut the door.

My girls stared at me as I sucked in and let out a huge breath.

Hadley! Blaine shouted, pounding his fist against the door. "Open this door—right now!"

I turned the lock harder than necessary so the loud click would get the message across. It was followed by a long, angry silence.

I’ll be back, he said before his silhouette disappeared.

Nicole put her arm around me as we made our way out back. I’m proud of you. You finally stood up to that jerk.

Thanks. I’m proud of me, too.

I felt awful, however, when I looked down at the bag I was carrying. Dark blue fabric peaked out from under the sparkly blue and pink tissue paper inside. It was the dress I said I loved so much when Blaine took me to the mall last week, and it was seriously expensive! Well, he owes me that much in pain and suffering, I told myself.

Are we ready to rock? Gage asked when we walked outside.

Yep. The guests should be here any minute, I told him.

They started playing behind me as I walked to the edge of the deck. Everything looked to be in place. Steam was coming off the food and caterers stood ready nearby. I turned to my friends and half-shouted so they could hear me over the guitars and drums. You can eat something if you want.

We’ll wait on the guests, Nicole shouted back.

I watched Aunt Madeline through the back window going to answer the door. Three football players headed our way. She didn’t even get the door shut before a trickle of more guests came in behind them. More football players, mixed with a couple of girls, followed them out back.

Michael, one of the football players, went straight for Lavender. He handed me a little, green gift bag, took her hand, and spun her around, totally getting into the music. Michael’s her kind-of boyfriend. You know—on again, off again.

A couple of kids started bobbing their heads to the beat, while others went straight to dancing like Michael and Lavender. Steph got asked to dance next, then Nicole.

Sid and Braxton made their way to me and Brittany. They’re both hot seniors, and Nicole’s had her eye on Braxton since he moved to Silver Wing a few weeks ago.

Hey, d’you know Blaine’s sitting out front in his car, looking like he’s gonna kill somebody? Sid asked me.

Yeah, I dumped him.

Oh. Sid nodded slowly, letting his eyes wander over me. In that case, you want to dance?

Are you crazy? Braxton asked him. Marksen will kill you if he catches you dancing with Hadley.

It actually sounded like a great way to get my mind off him. Well, he’s just going to have to get over it. I put a hand on Sid’s arm and headed for the dancers with him.

Over the next half hour, I had a blast dancing with Sid. It felt kind of wrong after a while, though—even though it totally wasn’t—so I ended up dancing with Zaniah and Nicole instead.

The present table was soon covered with boxes, bags, and envelopes. Even the ground was littered with them on both sides. Kids were eating, dancing, or talking all over the place. It was a blast! And a total success.

Through all the Happy Birthdays and hugs and laughs, Blaine remained nagging at the back of my mind, threatening to ruin the most important night of my life.

It was a relief when Nicole got on Gage’s microphone. Could I have everyone turn your attention to us and make some space down here? she said, pointing to the ground just in front of the deck.

Lavender was already twisting the spotlights around so they would be shining on us for our dance routines. Everyone moved back as we made our way down the stairs.

I barely took my place beside Nicole and Brittany in the front line of cheerleaders before The Pussycat Dolls started singing a pumped-up remix of Don’t Cha. As I moved to the beat in unison with the other girls, Blaine was forgotten. Dancing as hard as I could while everyone watched gave me a euphoric energy that was more than capable of erasing everything else. For those precious few minutes, hitting every step and twist and turn was all that mattered.

Even when I looked out at the sea of rapt faces and saw Blaine at the front of the crowd, standing as close to me as he could safely get, it felt amazing. His face wore an unfamiliar and unhappy expression. Seeing him begin to feel what he’d made me suffer so many times gave me a great deal of satisfaction, only adding to the energy.

When Meghan Trainor’s Me Too came on, I couldn’t help but think, He can stand there and want me all night long, but he’ll never have me… never again…

4

Aperfect circle of six sleeping bags, heads together, were laid on my bedroom floor later that night. Each one had a completely made-over girl sitting on top of it. It was always so much fun to pour out all the cosmetics and makeup we’d brought and do each other up like we were headed for some red carpet event.

The other four girls on our squad were gone. Nicole considered the six of us—me, her, Brittany, Steph, Zaniah, and Lavender—a step above the others, socially. She made sure to distinguish this in any way possible. The four ‘trivials’, as Nicole liked to call them, were never invited to our Saturday night sleepovers, which we rotated between our houses each week, all of us except for Lavender. Her room’s just too small. Usually the trivials weren’t invited to any of our get-togethers, period. So I was surprised when Nicole said they should come to my party, but she wanted us to perform as a team.

It’s ridiculous, really. I mean, it’s nice to be on top. The idea that we’re better than everyone else is just so dumb. Half the time I’m not even sure if I’m doing it right. I’d never tell Nicole any of this, of course. She’d probably snap her fingers and my popularity would vanish in a puff of smoke.

Just between you and me, at the beginning of the school year she had her dad try to bribe the cheer coach into putting her on the varsity squad and cutting the team down to the six girls of her choice. That way she could get everyone to call us ‘The Smokin’ Six’.

Our freshman year, Nicole was happy to be on the junior varsity cheer squad and get a feel for things, get to know the coach and what would sway her. But this year she was power hungry.

Unfortunately for her, having ten girls on the team is a school rule the coach couldn’t control. What she could control was who was on the team, and more importantly, who was the captain. So Nicole’s dad cut a fat check to the coach, Ms. Nordik, and Nicole was made cheer captain of the varsity squad. That meant she got to choose who made it on the team and who didn’t. I’ve kept Nicole’s secrets for as long as I can remember, so she trusted me with this one, but no-one else knew.

Last year’s varsity girls who didn’t make it on the squad were furious, but there was nothing they could do about it. Brittany, Steph, and I were easy picks, since the four of us have been cheering and taking tumbling together for years. Zaniah and Lavender were two new girls in our grade that just happened to be better at cheer and prettier than anyone else, which, as Nicole likes to remind them constantly, makes them the two luckiest girls at Silver Wing High.

In my opinion, Lavender’s the best cheerleader we’ve got. Nicole kind of picks on her, and I can never decide if it’s jealousy or the fact that Lavender’s really poor. Nicole’s pretty meticulous about who she associates with, and I know it was hard for her to let Lavender on the squad. Once we saw her try out, I don’t think there was a question in anyone’s minds that she deserved to be