by Zoe Evans
Ohhhhhh.
“I didn’t know his name was Ricky. Sorry.”
We rounded the corner to class, and I could tell that Tabitha Sue was on the lookout for Ricky to make sure he wasn’t in the hallways.
“That’s okay,” she continued. “So my brother was singing potty songs he’d learned at preschool at the top of his lungs, and my dad made us finish the parts my brother didn’t know. And just as I was saying the word ‘pee-pee,’ I saw Ricky at the table diagonal from us. He was smiling at me!”
“Wow. Just, wow.”
Tabitha Sue fiddled with the hemline of her skirt, keeping her eyes toward the floor. “I know,” she said, her voice heavy with embarrassment.
“Well, did he say anything to you?”
Tabitha Sue looked up at me. “Yeah. He said, ‘See you at practice, Tabitha Sue,’ and then he winked!” Worry clouded her face. “Do you think he was making fun of me?”
“No, silly! It’s called flirting. Look at the signs! He was smiling, he went out of his way to say hi to you. He referenced the fact that he notices you during practice. And he winked!”
Tabitha Sue blushed. “You think?”
I nodded, smiling. “Tabitha Sue! He totally has a crush on you!”
Tabitha Sue squealed.
The second bell rang, so it was time for us to get moving. “See you at practice,” I said, with a wink (ha-ha!). Tabitha Sue turned beet red. Ah, so much to learn.
The morning was okay, but I was DREADING lunch. It would be the first time I’d talk to Evan since our date (that I didn’t know was a date) on Saturday. I’d tried to make amends by sending him a text on Sunday, but he didn’t write back. So I knew he must’ve been seriously mad at me. It was a bad sitch. I hadn’t told Lanie about what happened, for the usual reasons. The longer I could avoid telling Lanie about my feelings for Evan (and vice versa), the longer things wouldn’t be awkward among the three of us.
Boy, was I in for it.
Lanie could tell from the first second we sat down that things were tense between Evan and me.
“Uh, guys? Anything you want to talk about?” Lanie looked from me to Evan and back. “This is almost as bad as the time you dropped Evan’s pet hamster,” she said under her breath.
“It’s nothing,” I said.
Evan gave me the LOOK OF DEATH and slammed his glass of milk down on his tray. (Not quite as scary as it could have been, since, you know, it WAS milk and all. But still, quite effective. I jumped.) “I’m out of here.”
“You could at least say good-bye!” said Lanie sarcastically. Then she turned to me. “Okay. Spill it.”
I thought about it for a split second, and then decided there was no time like the present!
“Evan asked me to the Sunshine Dance.”
“I knew it!” Lanie howled. “I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!”
“What do you mean, you knew?”
Lanie took a bite out of a greasy onion ring. “Do you think I’m completely clueless? Wait. Don’t answer that. I’ve noticed how things are kind of different between the two of you.”
“Different, how?” I asked. I was curious. I knew I FELT different, but didn’t know that there were other obvious signs I’d been missing.
“Different as in, you used to be able pick a wedgie or burp in front of Evan. Now, every time we’re together, you’re all self-conscious. Like, smoothing down your hair, and fidgeting with your outfit.”
“Lanes, I’m not eleven—I don’t pick my wedgie in public anymore. Also, I’m not a truck driver.”
“Whatever. You know what I’m talking about. It’s kind of . . . obvious.”
I was pretty freaked out. I didn’t realize that this was all so easy for everyone else to see. I thought I’d hid my feelings for Evan pretty well. Now it turned out I was broadcasting I HEART EVAN in the Daily Angeles.
“Look,” said Lanie. “I didn’t want to force you to talk about it. I figured you’d come to me when you were ready. So, are you ready?” She wiggled her eyebrows.
I told her everything. About how I was constantly thinking about Evan when I was in New York City. How Luc totally made me realize all the things I like about Evan. How lately, when I picture myself at the dance, the person I’m with IS Evan. And of course, how he asked me on a date THAT I DIDN’T KNOW WAS A DATE! And then to the dance, and how I had to turn him down.
“Awww,” said Lanie, putting her legs across my lap. “Our little guy’s all grown up. But poor E. You must have ripped his heart to shreds.”
I nodded. “I feel awful.”
“You don’t look so hot either.”
“Lanes!”
“I just mean, you look miserable.”
“Yeah, well, that’s exactly how I feel.” I wasn’t sure if that was much better, but I let it go.
“So, not to ask the most annoying question ever,” Lanie began, “but . . . how does Bevan fit into this equation?”
I sighed deeply. “I think he wants to marry his soccer team. If he hasn’t already.”
“It’s still that bad?” asked Lanie.
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I haven’t really seen him except for random drive-bys in the hall.”
“Ouch. Are you still gonna go to the dance with him?”
Until Lanie asked, I hadn’t even thought of NOT going with Bevan as an option. I’d said yes already. Can you un-say yes? He’s been so out of touch with me that I started to think maybe that’s reason enough to want to tell him I’ve changed my mind. Who wants to go to the dance with a stranger? Evan has been popping into my head more and more since Saturday night. And when he does, he’s always wearing a suit. Sure, it’s like powder blue and from the Stone Age, but come on—that’s so Evan! Right? I thought about what it would be like to go to the dance with Evan. We’d goof around, we’d laugh. I wouldn’t have to worry about him being distracted by something else.
“Maddy, you’re getting your daydream-y look,” said Lanie.
I frowned. “I’m just really confused.”
Lanie handed me an onion ring. “Here, eat this. The oily deliciousness will solve everything.”
I took a bite and savored the crispy, salty coating. “Mmmm. Okay, problem numero uno solved. I’ll be going to the dance with a big ol’ carton of onion rings as my plus one. Now, onto my problem number two.”
“Is your life always this full of drama?” Lanie teased. “What now?”
“Oh, you know. I’m totally freaking out about tryouts. Which, by the way, I’ve finally decided to go to.”
Lanie looked at me approvingly. “Really? I’m so proud of you! This time they better take you—or else! Do the Grizzlies know?”
I shook my head. “No,” I said guiltily. “I haven’t had the heart to tell them. Or maybe I’m just being wimpy about it.”
“You should tell them. Remember you were completely bugging out over telling the team you were going to New York during break, and they ended up being cool with it?”
“I know, I know. But this is bigger. Worse. I mean, I know they’ll be fine without me if I actually make the team. I just don’t want them to think I’m a giant traitor.”
“Yeah, I hear ya.” Lanie glanced down at her cell on the table. “Listen, let’s chat more about this later. I have to stop by the Daily Angeles before class.”
“Say hi to your boyfriend for me,” I said, batting my eyelashes.
I was going to leave and take a leisurely walk to class, but instead I decided to chill and think about what the Grizzlies will say when I tell them I’m trying out for the Titans. But as usual, me zoning out = daytime nightmares, and I was suddenly pulled into this bad dream where the Grizzlies were at my funeral. But everybody was dancing in the streets and there was a huge jazz band playing around my casket. My whole team was dancing to the music, and they couldn’t hear me shouting from inside the casket, “I’m still here! I’m not dead!” Finally, Katarina heard me and opened the casket. Instead of being relieved that I was still there, she
pointed a finger at me and shouted, “Traitor!” Then she started shaking me! “Maddy! Maddy!” she said over and over again.
When I opened my eyes, I realized I had fallen asleep on the cafeteria table. I had drool on one arm, and when I looked up Katarina was there, looking worried.
“You be all right, yes?” she asked.
Whew. That was some daydream. More like a daymare. This dozing-off thing was getting out of control—even for me. When tryouts are over, I’m going to give myself a full week of going to bed early and sleeping late on the weekend.
“I saw you sleeping wis zee table, so I try to make you awake,” said Katarina.
I tried not to laugh. “Um. Thanks, Katarina. Yeah, I guess I need some more sleep!”
“Okay,” she said. She didn’t look any less worried. “I see you at the practice!”
After two afternoon classes, I met up with Katie in my favorite class of all: Titan training. We stretched for a long time, then Katie drilled me on the harder jumps. I’m still a little wobbly on my pikes.
“You’re reaching and dropping your chest too much,” said Katie. “Think of it as folding your body in half.”
I tried for the tenth time.
“Good!” said Katie. “Okay, now do a front hurdler.”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. This was easy stuff (or so I thought).
I reached up high into the air, extending one leg out and bending the other.
Katie was not impressed. “Higher,” she said. “It’s not enough to be ‘good’ at these moves. You have to be the best. You need to be the girl at tryouts with the highest front hurdler.”
I nodded and tried again.
“Again,” said Katie.
We did this for what seemed like forever, and then we went through cheering while smiling and making eye contact. I have no problem with these things when I’m home or with the Grizzlies. But when I think about cheering in front of the judges, I get all JELL-O kneed.
When we were doing our cooldown stretches, I could tell something was bothering Katie.
“Mind if I ask what’s wrong?” I said.
Katie looked at me, then shook her head. “It’s so stupid.”
“You can tell me. I promise not to judge.”
She waited a few moments, drawing circles on the floor with her forefinger. “It’s this dumb dance. This is so embarrassing, but I still don’t have a date!”
“You’re kidding!” I exclaimed, without thinking.
“Gee, thanks a lot, Maddy.”
“No, I’m sorry, what I meant is that I figured a girl like you would be the first one with a date. In fact, I thought you’d have trouble fighting them off.”
Katie laughed bitterly. “Well, I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I sort of thought so too. But all the guys I thought would ask me ended up asking other girls. So the joke’s on me, I guess. Oh, and Clementine and Hilary just won’t shut up about their stupid dates.”
“Oh, believe me, I get it. Until recently, I was in your shoes,” I told her.
“Aren’t you going with Bevan?”
“Yeah, but he took forever to ask me.”
“You don’t seem so excited,” said Katie.
I wasn’t so sure how much I wanted to tell Katie just then. First of all, Bevan was her ex. Second, we’d gotten into a fight in the past about him.
I guess she could tell I wasn’t so into sharing with her, because then she smiled and said, “I promise not to judge.”
“Well, Bevan’s been kind of weird lately. We hardly talk to each other anymore.”
Katie nodded like she’d been there, done that. “Let me guess,” she said. “Soccer?”
“Yes!” I said, relieved that I had someone to talk to who really understood. Like, from firsthand experience. “It’s, like, all he does! It’s all he cares about, it seems.”
Katie sighed. “Yep. I’ve had the joy of experiencing that side of Bevan too. It can get to be really frustrating.”
“What did you do about it? If you don’t mind me asking, I mean.”
Katie chewed on her lip as she thought. “I tried talking to him. I planned things for us to do together. But he just couldn’t give it up, not even a little bit. And I guess that’s a big reason we broke up.”
OMG! Can you believe? It’s like he’s repeating what happened with Katie with me. And the worst part is, he doesn’t even realize it!
“Well . . . ,” I said, not sure how to end the conversation. “It’s just annoying, I guess.” I decided to steer the conversation more to Katie. “And anyway, do you have any more prospects in terms of dates?”
Katie shook her head. “Nope. No one.”
“Oh, I doubt it, Katie. I’m sure tons of guys want to ask you. They’re just working up the courage.” It’s completely insane that Katie is having a problem finding a date. It, like, goes against the laws of nature. She’s head cheerleader, she’s beautiful, and people just seem to want to be around her. I can just picture all the guys in our class hanging around the halls, pretending to look busy as they wait for their perfect moment to ask her out. She probably doesn’t even notice when it happens.
“I hope so,” said Katie. “But, more important, tryouts are this Saturday. Can you believe it?”
My heart stared doing loop-de-loops. I swallowed nervously. “No, I can’t.”
“Maddy, you know what we keep talking about. Confidence! That’s your secret weapon on tryout day. If you feel good about yourself, you’ll ace any test the judges throw your way.”
I smiled. “Working on it.”
“I wish I could tell you exactly what drills and things the judges are gonna ask you to do, but I can’t.”
“Of course you can’t!” I assured her. “Cheating is never cool. Besides, if I make it, I want to make it purely based on talent.”
We started changing back into school clothes. “Thanks for everything, Katie.”
As I headed to class I couldn’t get out of my head how different tryouts are this time versus last time. During last tryouts, I hardly knew Katie. I thought that she was, like, Miss Perfect, who was sometimes snotty, but mainly just had super-annoying friends. Plus, I was obsessed with being as good a cheerleader as my mom was, and not half as focused on being the best cheerleader I can be. Even funnier, I thought people like Jared and Tabitha Sue were total geeks (talk about snotty!). I’m still nervous, but I feel like a different person. Like I have a whole new attitude. Maybe that will make all the difference this time?
LATER THAT NIGHT, ON MY LIVING ROOM COUCH
When we were getting ready for practice, I couldn’t help but notice a certain someone (ahem, Tabitha Sue) taking a little longer than usual. Tabitha Sue is usually one of those more laid-back girls, who doesn’t obsess over hair and makeup but effortlessly looks cute. So when I saw her break out a makeup bag and multiple hair products, I had to comment.
I sidled up to the locker-room mirror and picked up one of her lip glosses that had rolled away.
“What’s up, Maybelline?” I asked.
Tabitha Sue blushed.
Jacqui must have noticed too. “You have a hot date at practice or something?” she joked.
Tabitha Sue got even redder. “No,” she said. “I, um . . . I just thought, you know, I’d start making a little effort.” She picked up her mascara and started applying it.
“Oh really?” I asked. I knew this had to have something to do with impressing Diane’s friend Ricky.
“Yes, really,” said Tabitha Sue, concentrating in the mirror. “Isn’t looking good part of the whole ‘cheer confidence’ factor?”
Jacqui spritzed some of Tabitha Sue’s hairspray onto her ponytail and turned to walk away. “You’re scaring me, Tabitha Sue.”
“Me too,” I said. “But you look great.”
“Thanks,” she said. “I’ll be right out.”
I guess the hair and makeup thing worked, because Tabitha Sue was extra on point during practice. She was practically leadin
g everyone through the dance routine, and helped Ian with some moves he wasn’t getting. It was fun to see her so excited and confident. I made a mental note to spend more time than usual making myself up for tryouts. It seems like it works! (At least it can’t hurt, right?)
Toward the end of practice, like clockwork, I saw Ricky take a seat on the bleachers closest to us. Tabitha Sue didn’t notice at first, but when she did, this huge smile came onto her face.
We went over a new cheer we’d taught the team the day before, and Tabitha Sue cheered the loudest.
When everyone was getting ready to leave, Diane took Tabitha Sue by the hand and started pulling her toward Ricky. Tabitha Sue looked a little scared—like she hadn’t planned on actually having to talk to the guy.
“Tabitha Sue,” said Diane, “have you met my friend Ricky?” Diane deposited a dumbstruck Tabitha Sue in front of Ricky, and I tried not to stare as I watched the two of them talking to each other. Diane left them there and walked back to the group.
“What was that about?” I asked Diane, even though I totally knew the answer.
“Ricky’s been wanting to ask her to the dance for, like, ever,” said Diane. “He just needed a tiny bit of help.”
When Tabitha Sue came into the locker room, she practically did a high kick from being so happy. “I’m going to the dance, everybody!”
Jacqui, Diane, Katarina, and I all cheered for her.
“Hey, Tabitha Sue,” said Jacqui. “Can I borrow some of that lip gloss? It looks like your trick worked, and I can use a little help in that area.”
“What do you mean?” I asked Jacqui quietly. “You don’t have a date either?”
“What do you mean ‘either’?” she asked, an odd expression on her face. “Didn’t you say that Bevan finally popped the question last week?”
“Oh, yeah, right.” OOPS! I’d been thinking about Katie and totally slipped up. “Well, do you have any prospects?”
“You mean besides Matt, who keeps begging me to go with him? Not so much.”
“what?” My jaw dropped so low, I’m surprised it’s still hinged. “Matt asked you to the dance? How could you not tell me this?”
“It’s not a big deal,” she said nonchalantly. “You haven’t really been around lately, so I guess it slipped my mind.”