September 4, 2012 after school<br/><br/>Chloe was still smiling from ear to ear when she made her way from world science to cheer practice. James was in her class. She could not believe her eyes and found herself looking over at him throughout the entire class, her cheeks blushing every time their eyes met. Though they didn’t speak, it was still enough to throw her thoughts off her studies, her thoughts consumed by him. She wondered if he had text her yet, even though she would not read it until she got her phone back at the end of the day. But the end of the day was only a cheer session away. And cheer practice was her absolute favourite part of the day. She stopped by the gym bathrooms first to change into a pair of shorts and tie her long dark hair into a ponytail before making her way out into the gym to find Susan and the other girls.<br/><br/>Katie had her workout clothing laid out and she appeared to be in animated conversation with Susan.  Jessie was close by and occasionally looked at the girls but said nothing, though she rolled her eyes and looked away frequently.<br/><br/>Ashley Avery approached the threesome.  Upon seeing Chloe, she asked, “So, Chloe, did you hear about the lesbians kissing in the gym?”<br/><br/>Chloe’s jaw dropped “No! Who was it?” She asked eagerly hoping it was that kid James was friends with. If she was gay then she had nothing to worry about and that was a pleasing thought.<br/><br/>“Don’t really know.  One of them looked more like a boy than a girl from what I am told.  The other was pretty, apparently almost pretty enough to be one of us.  Can you believe that?”  Ashley grinned with a slight look of astonishment.  “What a waste of genetics, don’t you think?”<br/><br/>Chloe nodded in agreement with Ashley and continued with her questioning “Did you see them? Was it sick? I always knew girls who dressed like boys were gay”<br/><br/>“No, I didn’t see them.  Some of the football team did, though.  I doubt that they could point them out, though ‘cause I doubt any gay girls would be cheerleading.  Softball or track, more likely,” Ashley responded in a mocking tone.<br/><br/>Chloe nodded “So how has your first day been? Aside from getting your hand on some reputation destroying gossip? Sorry I missed you at lunch.” Chloe shuffled a little uncomfortably next to Ashley. She would not approve of detention, but its not like there was much Chloe could do about it. “Mrs. Woolard is such a fucking bitch” she muttered angrily, but not as upset about the whole thing as she was before meeting James.<br/><br/>“What’d you do to piss her off?” Ashley asked more than a little curious and completely ignoring the pleasantries.<br/><br/>“She sat me next to Abby incest.” Chloe said with disgust “So I protested like anyone would! And she took my phone! And gave me a detention! It was completely unfair.”<br/><br/>Ashley sympathized with Chloe.  “That does suck.  Was there at least some cute boys to pass the time with?  And do you have your phone back now?”<br/><br/>“Not yet,” she said, trying to keep the I have a secret look off her face. “No boys worth my time, it was detention after all,” she said, then quickly changed the subject. “What are we doing today captain?” She smiled.<br/><br/>“Whatever coach says,” she said with a shrug.  “I bet the cow will make us run laps for a bit.  Talk about irony.”  She returned back to the subject of boys, “Well, if you find someone that you are interested in, make sure he’s worthy of our crowd.  Wouldn’t want to see you fall out, now would we?” she told Chloe, more than asked.  “Anyone you got your eyes on?”<br/><br/>Chloe had to grind her teeth to stop her jaw from dropping open. Did someone tell her about James, not that anything had happened?  She had just had a conversation with the guy. He was hot though. “No,” she lied. “Sean from the football team is awfully cute though.” She didn’t know Sean, but he was attractive in the most obvious way - pity he was dumb as a doornail. But, he was a safe option to pick because he had never looked twice at Chloe.<br/><br/>Ashley agreed readily.  “He is.  Easy to keep under control, too.  I would have thought you would have liked more of a challenge, though?”<br/><br/>At that moment, another cheerleader, an African American girl who Chloe knew as Chantee Abrams joined the conversation.  “If you want to talk about hot boys, what about James, the basketball player?  He’s the shit.  I think I’ll see if he would like himself a little chocolate for homecoming.”<br/><br/>Chloe couldn’t help but glare at Chantee as her hands balled up into angry little fists. She didn’t speak instead looking to Ashley to see her reply. No matter her feelings she would model her behaviour after Ashley, she was after all the one calling all the shots.<br/><br/>Ashley laughed pleasantly at Chantee’s comment and then told Chantee, “Oh, he’d definitely be worth it.  I say go for it, Chantee.”  She then asked Chloe, “What do you think, Chloe?”<br/><br/>Chloe winced. “Goodness Chantee I didn’t realise you had such a low opinion of yourself. Did you eat too many sweets over the holiday? Did the cellulite from your ass spread to your thighs? What is wrong with a footballer?” she practically spat.<br/><br/>“Woah!” Chantee said taken aback.<em> Cat fight on! </em>“Is that a fact?  At least I have an ass and some tits that guys would want to take notice of.  Did you envy a 2 by 4 when you were growing up?”<br/><br/>Chantee’s words hurt. Chloe hated her lack of tits. The only bright side being she was a good flyer. Her eyes narrowed and she stepped right into Chantee’s personal space despite being smaller. “They only give you attention because you are cheap and easy. No one actually wants a chubby slut who can hardly squeeze into her cheer uniform!” Chloe was shocked with herself but didn’t let it show on her face.<br/><br/>Chantee reached out with her arm and grabbed Chloe by the hair.  “Let’s see how well you land without someone to catch you, flier.”<br/><br/>Chloe squealed as Chantee pulled her ponytail. Fear suddenly setting in, she was only a small girl and she didn’t have any experience in physical fighting it was obvious she would lose. And just as quickly as her hair was grabbed up it was suddenly released. And so was the ring on her finger. It hit the floor with a ting. Chloe didn’t need telling twice, the girl must of let go for whatever reason and her ring..she didn’t have time to mourn it or ponder her pesky ghost she needed to escape. “Bitch” Chloe snapped quickly turning on her heel and going to find Susan.<br/><br/>Chantee growled, “Yeah you are.  Can’t wait to see those ugly puppies,” as Chloe broke free.  “We’ll see who catches you today.  Might just happen to miss when you’re in the air.”<br/><br/>Susan was not difficult to find as she was talking with Katie. Jessie had been standing next to Katie but not participating in the conversation.  All three looked over as the fight began and ended suddenly.  Katie looked at Chantee and trying, but failing, to scowl, “Nobody had better purposely be dropping anyone.  We’re a team!”<br/><br/>We’re a team.  Those were the first words Helen heard as she walked over to the cheerleaders.  They were a team, a team she longed to be part of and knew she never would.  It didn’t make it feel any better to know it was impossible and to just let it go.  Helen desperately wanted to be accepted by the girls, be cool like them, be part of their lives like she was with her gymnastics team.  It was almost the same thing.  And, like, the gymnasts worked out way harder than the cheer girls so they should see that and want her.  And didn’t Helen tumble better than any of them?  That’s why she came, to help them with their tumbling and stunts.  Okay, so maybe she wasn’t super dazzlingly pretty like Chloe, but they could, like, put Helen in the back or something.  Or just let her do flips and cartwheels from time to time then go back.<br/><br/>We’re a team. And you’re not on it said the looks as Helen walked up.<br/><br/>“Coach says your Coach said to work on round offs with you?”  Dang it, why did it sound like a question?  Helen tried not to look too awkward.  She was in her sweatpants and leotard, carrying her sweat top,  and hadn’t bathed, trying to discourage Mr. Baker, and she didn’t have on any make-up or anything.  Whereas the girls...they looked so so so pretty.<br/><br/>Katie asked Helen, “Bon Bon did?  Really?”  Bon Bon referred to the cheerleader’s coach Bonnie Farmer, who appeared to have eaten one too many of those from her alleged cheerleading days.  Katie shrugged.  “OK.  I guess we will.  Is that right, Ash?”<br/><br/>Ash grunted, “I guess.  Everyone, let’s go.”  She looked at Helen skeptically.  “So, if you’re so good, why are you not a cheerleader?  And what’s your name?  I know I’ve seen you around.”<br/><br/>“I’m Helen.  Um,”  She knew it was a girl jab, a total girl jab, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.  “I guess because I’m so busy on the gymnastics team.  But, maybe I could see about joining?”  Helen wanted to punch herself for that, for allowing herself to get sucked up into the game when she knew it was a game.  “I mean, probably not because I’m so busy.”<br/><br/>“Gymnastics team?  So, you think you’re too good for us, then?  Is that it?  Or do you prefer having only parents for fans?” Ash grilled and then gave her teammates a wink.<br/><br/>“No!”  Helen visibly flushed, freckles getting a little more hidden as the skin behind them reddened.  “And, like, more people than just parents show up.  Sometimes.” she added.  “I’m, I’m not too good for you.  I’m not stuck up, really.”  Her hand came up and dragged a piece of hair loose and had it almost to her mouth to chew before she realized it and dropped it.<br/><br/>Helen wished she wasn’t so chunky compared to the cheerleaders.  Not fat, but chunky from the muscles needed to do gym.  She wasn’t sleekly pretty like them.<br/><br/>Ash gave a little smile at Helen, knowing that she had firmly been put into her place.<em> That’s right.  You’re nothing compared to us.  Never forget it. </em>“So, Helen, where are we going for practice on our round offs?  And on the way there, perhaps you can tell us about your boyfriend....”<br/><br/>Deflect.  Deflect.  Deflect.  Don’t let them hurt you any more.  Helen’s face went as slack as she could make it, determined but still failing to not show that Ash had hurt her feelings.  “Over there.  I’ll go get some mats and meet you there.”  And so not talk about why she didn’t have a boyfriend.  Or want one.  Oh, god, what if they knew about Isolde?<br/><br/>Helen made her escape and went to the pile of folded practice mats.  They were heavy, but she’d been lugging them around for years.  The trick was to knock the top one off, unfold two sections, then pile the other mats on top and drag it.  She didn’t even have to think about it and soon had the heavy mats in motion across the ground towards where the cheerleaders were waiting.  Waiting like pretty little hyenas.<br/><br/>Ashley turned over to Katie and Chloe, “Wonder why she didn’t answer.  Maybe she doesn’t have one, or MAYBE,” she said with a more malicious smile, “she’s one of the lesbians from the gym.  What do you think?”<br/><br/>Chloe eyed Helen up. She was prettier than Chloe had remembered and it stung to know she was the girl James had spent so much time with. It would be in her best interests to be one of the lesbians then Chloe wouldn’t have to compete with her. “Maybe she is.” Chloe said trying to hone in some kind of third eye lesbian radar. “It would explain why she is so weird….Is it just me or does she need a shower?”<br/><br/>The mats took just a few minutes to set out.  Helen arranged them end to end, making a long runway in which the cheerleaders could practice and get several sets going before running out of room.  Naturally none of them moved to help as she laid the mats down and made sure the velcro overlapped and grabbed.  If a mat slipped you could be seriously hurt.<br/><br/>“Okay,” she called and motioned the cheerleaders over.  She had to wait of course as they took their sweet ass time and checked phones and did their hair.  “Some of you have done these before, but some of you haven’t.  Coach, your Coach,” she clarified, “wants you to work on round offs.  So, it’s sort of like a cartwheel, right?”<br/><br/>Helen took a few fast steps and flowed into an effortless cartwheel, then another, then another before ending on her feet without wanting to keep going.  She walked back.  “You do some of those.  I’ve seen you at games and practice.  But you over rotate sometimes.  We’ll work on that later.  A round off is like a cart wheel, only you use it to turn your horizontal -” they were cheerleaders - “your sideways speed,” she clarified, “into vertical.  Up and down.  You can jump higher.  Or you can use it to turn your forward speed into backwards speed by just rotating.  But you have to be careful.  You can seriously mess up your ankle or back and you’re putting a lot more power into your stunt than you’re used to.”  When Helen talked about gymnastics, she was serious and confident, so unlike how she was just talking to the cheerleaders.<br/><br/>“Start like a cartwheel.”  Helen took a step and went into one, but stopped herself upside down, feet up in the air and balancing on her arms without strain.  “But look, one hand is ninety degrees from where it should be,” she briefly lifted that hand up and balanced on just one arm, “And the other is like, opposite.  A hundred and eighty degrees.  That turns your feet by twisting your hands and shoulders like this,” she rotated without bobble, “and your feet land together facing opposite the way you were running.”<br/><br/>“From there you can do back handsprings or tumble.  Or, like, a Yurchenko in gym but you don’t have a springboard.”<br/><br/>Helen let herself down by relaxing her arms and rolling into a ball as she dropped and stood up with the motion.<br/><br/>“Like, who’s the best with back handsprings?  How many can they do?” Helen asked the cheerleaders.<br/><br/>Ashley giggled at Chloe’s statement.  “Want to go smell her?” she offered Chloe.<br/><br/>Then, turning to Helen, Ashley asked, “OK, was like, any of that English?”<br/><br/>“Just watch, okay?  I’ll go slow.  Walk beside me?”  Helen didn’t bother going to the start of the mats.  She’d done this so long, so often that she didn’t even think about not being able to finish one safely.  “Start like this.”  Helen took a few steps to build up a little momentum then started going slowly through the motions, not looking at Ash but at where she was going instead, just like she’d been taught.  “See?”<br/><br/>Ashley yawned as Helen conducted her demonstration.<br/><br/>Jessie turned to Katie and whispered, “The girl’s fortunate that Ashley’s not in a vicious mood.  She’d be flat on her back.”<br/><br/>Katie nodded but said nothing.<br/><br/>Ashley turned to her cheerleaders and said, “Chloe, why don’t you show her how it is done?  Get a better smell at her and test your theory.”<br/><br/>Helen finished up and went to the mats.  “Okay, whoever is up, come on.  Just go and I’ll spot you.  If you feel like you’re falling, tuck and hold.  The mats will keep you from getting hurt and I’ll slow you down.”<br/><br/>Chloe stiffened as Ashley said her name. Fuck. Fuckfuckfuckfuck. She had not been listening to a word Helen was saying she was too busy swimming in her own little private drama. If Helen was not the girl kissing some other girl in the gym then chances are she was harbouring a crush for James, Who wouldn’t he is gorgeous! And that would need to be taken care of straight away. But if she was the girl kissing in the gym and then Chloe came along and made a spectacle of her James would think she is a rotten bitch.<br/><br/>Biting her lip she stepped forward anxiously. Helen didn’t smell any worse than any of the other girls after rolling around on the mats for a while but she looked back over her shoulder and wrinkled her nose for Ashley anyway. “So just like a cart wheel right?” Chloe said taking a few quick steps and going down into a cart wheel but she forgot to position her hands like Helen had been explaining. Trying to cover her mistake she tried to turn and land on both feet like Helen had but instead came down hard on one and the other was slightly lifted to keep her balance. She blushed embarrassed, she was usually graceful in her cartwheels. Fuck.<br/><br/>Ashley gave a small laugh.  Whether this was directed at Chloe or Helen, nobody could be sure.  However, she merely told Chloe and the other girls, "See, we don't need this training from this girl.  Let's go girls.  Let's go do real practice."  She waived her arm at Chloe to follow her.