“Tell me when you need my bank card, hon.” She pinched at herbs from the rack, adding to the pot.
I swiveled on the stool. “I’ll show you them later.”
“I’m sure I will love them.” She placed a lid over the crock pot and dusted her hands on her apron.
“Well, I have lots to choose from.” I poked my head over the glass lid. It had steamed pretty fast. “What’s that?”
“Beef. Your dad’s home tonight and I promised him stew.”
My dad worked as a pilot for a major airline, so he’d be away from home for days at a time, especially when flying internationally, while my mom was an assistant principal of an elementary school, mainly organizing events and fundraisers.
“Mm!” I said, sitting back. “Can you believe I already have school work to do?”
“Oh. What work?”
I hummed. “English lit, read and research. I wanna sketch something too; we’re mainly doing cubes and shapes in class, but need to think about my senior project.”
“I’m sure whatever you create will be wonderful.” She reached out for my hand. “Will there be a show?”
A hum broke in my throat. “Not winter semester, but end of year I know there’s an exhibition, I think.” I smiled to myself. “Mrs. Galloway said if I needed, the studio was open to me after hours.”
“Well. Good luck with that and cheer practice,” she chuckled, rinsing veggies in the sink.
“Mom!”
“You know my thoughts on those bits of fabric. But, it’s your life, honey,” she said, turning her head to show her smile. “I know you love gymnastics.”
It wasn’t a secret. If my knees or shoulders were on show, my mom was against it, as for my dad, he was indifferent, but I was his baby girl. They’d never attended any games when we performed, not because they didn’t want to, but because I wouldn’t tell them. Besides, they both worked a lot and had very little time for anything outside of the church.
My bedroom hadn’t changed a lot since I was little. It was pink, even if the shade was lighter, almost white, and everything matched now.
Dylan had texted me several times since I walked through the front door. I threw my body on the bed and laid there a moment, looking at my phone. I thumbed in the pin and opened up to video chat.
“Hey,” he said, moving his phone to catch his face while he ran.
“What are you doing?” I asked, smiling at his cute face.
He caught his breath and paused. “Coach wants us to keep fit, so taking a run.”
“You’ve been in training all day.”
He shrugged. “I’m the captain; I’ve gotta lead by example,” he said. “Plus, I get a rest day. Sooo—”
“So you’re coming over tomorrow?” I asked.
“We missed date night last week. Need to spend time with you before homecoming. We can watch whatever you want.”
A chuckle came from the back of my throat. I thought it was going to be a cute giggle. In the reflection at the corner, my face blushed. “You’ll regret saying that.”
“As long as I spend time with you, I don’t care.”
“Even if it’s Clueless?”
“Especially Clueless!”
“You love it really,” I said, moving the phone between hands. “My dad’s home tonight as well.”
“So, no kissing?”
“Nothing,” I said. “Maybe a cuddle—on the couch.” I smiled at him.
He raised an eye, still smiling into his phone. “I can see your tan at this angle.” He swiped his blond hair back with a hand. “I gotta finish this run. Call you later.”
“Have fun,” I said. “Love you.”
“Love you too,” he said before the video ended.
The phone dropped to my chest. I hugged it close. He filled me with warmth; not the heat from the phone, or the warmer than usual temperature of my skin from the tanning bed, it was inside radiating outward.
A paw attacked my arm. I craned my neck to see my cat, pawing my arm, a hint for me to move. Oreo was my cat, made up of black and white spots, a black patch over one eye and a white patch over the other. He was my cat-shaped Oreo. He leaped to my chest and sat staring.
“What do you want?” I asked. He pushed his head forward and licked my nose, pulling back and staring again. “If you want feeding, ask mom.” I wrapped my arm around him as he laid on me.
My phone buzzed beside him and his claws came out, nipping at my skin. “Little shit.” I pushed him away with the back of my hand. “Just my phone.” I shoved it at his nose. The phone buzzed again. He skittered away, scratching my arm again.
It was a group chat, hitting me in full force, names popped up on my screen. The topic of conversation was decorating lockers. Char was seeing Benny on and off, he was one of Dylan’s friends. I noticed his name pop up a few times, and from what I could see, a few girls wanted his locker. Benny was the tallest on the team; I could see he was attractive, but not the appeal.
Well, Dylan’s mine, I added to the chat.
FYI Benny’s locker is mine, Char posted. Sorry to disappoint.
When are you two going to be a thing? One of the juniors commented.
On a second chat with Char, Ava, Libby, and Hannah, Char popped up. Did you see that? I know it’s no secret we had a fling. But do they have to be so thirsty?
The shared expressions of sarcasm we’d pull when Char talked about Benny and their fling flooded my mind.
But you’re not dating. Ava added.
Yet! Char commented with an emoji of sass.
Before I was called down for supper, everyone was all in agreement of the lockers. I’d had Dylan’s name cut out in the school colors, blue, white, and black. The school logo, and some pictures we’d taken, Dylan was in his jersey, and I was in my cheer uniform kissing his cheek. Of course, people knew he was mine, but I wanted to be on public display. Senior year was the year of prom, and every opportunity to show how we were the perfect couple, was an opportunity to be taken.
My younger sister, Maddie stood at my bedroom door.
“Oh. Zo.”
“Yeah?”
“I need a book to read for school.”
I gestured to the shelves above my desk. I didn’t have much choice, among the Charlaine Harris and House of Night books, both of which, she wasn’t ready for. “What are you looking for?”
“My friends are all reading The Hunger Games, but I don’t think mom wants me to. She said I can’t see the films.”
I rolled my eyes. “Well, I have The Hunger Games if you want,” I said, playing the cool sister. “It won’t do you any harm, just don’t tell mom.”
“Really?” She jumped at the shelf and pulled at the spine. “Thank you, thank you!”
“Only sister, favorite sister,” I chuckled.
“Girls,” mom called again.
Over summer, I got most of my school reading in, so I’d barely touched any of my other books. The required reading list was longer each year, and I knew once school was in full swing, I wouldn’t have any time to read.
Monday was the biggest day at school. It meant spirit and pep; we arrived early to decorate the lockers. Char had an old picture of her and Benny, I knew it had been from a group photo, she’d cropped everyone else out. It wasn’t creepy for Char; it was an average day in her life.
Students piled into the hallways, filled with their voices, slowly building in excitement. Blue, white, and black streamers hung in the hallways, getting in everyone’s way, along with the pre-decorated banners. Don’t forget Homecoming this Friday! And Grab your Homecoming Tickets!
A loud voice over the PA, “Morning all! Marin County High School is proud to be hosting our rivals, the Lakeside Lions to our court this Friday at 4. We’re expecting a great game from our own Mighty Marin Pandas! And don’t forget, the homecoming dance follows the game at 8, so buy your tickets, and don’t forget to ask that special someone.”
Dylan poked at me from behind in homeroom for morni
ng registration. “So,” he said, as I turned. “Will you go to homecoming with me?”
I butted my lips and hummed. “That depends on what did you thought of your locker?”
“Whoever did it was extremely talented and knew just how much I loved my girlfriend. They just glued down a bunch of pictures with her in them,” he said. “If you say no, you do realize I’ll have to ask them instead.”
“But only if you win the game,” I said.
“That’s not too much pressure,” he snorted, throwing a hand to his face. “But my locker is clearly the best.” He swiped a hand through his blond hair.
I wanted nothing more than to have my hands combing through his hair, styling it. It was what I spent most of my time doing when he came over.
“Good,” I said, pushing myself back in my chair as he kissed me.
“Dylan, Zoey,” Mrs Parker said. “No PDA, you two should know better. Homecoming’s this Friday, leave it for then.”
Dylan gave a sloppy left-handed salute as the entire class snickered. Mrs Parker was known for being strict on school rules, although PDA wasn’t a rule, more personal preference because it made her uncomfortable. Whenever I made contact with Dylan, we were the only two people in the moment; it made my skin tingle.
The morning bell rang. “Right. Out! All of you,” Mrs Parker said, removing her glasses and waving a hand.
My favorite period of the day was gym, it doubled as extra cheer practice, or at least as far as the senior gym class consisted. We changed in the girl’s locker room, our blue, white, and black striped cheer skirts, and our blue cheer tops with MC and the design of a panda roaring.
“Oh look, Heather,” Mila said. “It’s the pathetic cheering pandas.”
“It’s gym class,” Heather said. She pointed at our outfits. “Surely they shouldn’t be skipping class for cheer practice.”
Mila was the president of the student body and the reject of cheer try-outs two years running. She’d rolled her ankle twice, both times during try-outs.
“And if it isn’t frumpy and frumplestiltskin,” Char said. She exhaled deeply and rolled her eyes. “That’s all.” She waved them along as Ava grabbed a deodorant can and sprayed at them like it was bug spray.
“I hate that,” I said.
“Should have bitched them out, Char,” Ava said.
Hannah and Libby giggled to themselves. We weren’t elitist; we would never tell someone they couldn’t join unless we had a real reason to, often it was reported to the principal because they called it unfair, but if they couldn’t do a simple cheer, they were hopeless. A simple, M - A - R - I - N, Go Mighty Marin Pandas! And failing that, if they injured themselves, what use were they? I was all for having more people on the squad, but nobody looking for drama.
Char was blunt and straight to the point, if she didn’t like you, you’d know, but not from the hallway three classes away, straight from her.
“We should’ve volunteered to be part of the student body,” Char said. “At least then we’d know homecoming would be decent.”
“I thought you were, Char,” I said.
“Last semester they asked, and I wanted to, but I knew I was going to be cheer captain, so I said no. If I were in the student body, I would need to be president.”
Among all the girls on the squad, we had three guys, Jack, Quentin, and Ant. Quentin had been at the Youth Olympic Games last year, and his uncle, Mr. June was our coach, but he’d only been our coach for the past two years, and he’d brought home the bronze at the 2012 Olympics. He would’ve competed in the 2016 Brazil Olympics until a sprained wrist got in the way.
Mr. June stood outside on the field; adjusting the straps on his wrist splint, scrunching his lips at the dirty beige fabric.
“Okay!” he said. “First game is this Friday, so we need to lock this routine down.”
Char took a spot beside Mr. June and clenched her hands together. “Seniors, this is our last year. While squad practice is tonight, we need a routine. We know Mr. June is an Olympic medalist, we cannot let him down, if you don’t feel like you’re up to the challenge tonight, or for the rest of the basketball season, then please, hand in your pom-poms.”
Mr. June laughed. “Thanks, Charlotte,” he said. “But, we won’t be cutting anyone from the squad, we don’t want anyone to leave, but I will say that if you do leave, the Lakeside Lions cheer squad will win.”
Char snapped her fingers twice. “Exactly, and Mr. June, please call me Char,” she said. “Charlotte was the name my parents called me when they were together, so it reminds me of that.”
Of course, that was a crock of BS she brewed to tell all the teachers if they dared call her Charlotte. I’d grown up with Charlotte before she was Char. Her dad had called her Char when she was younger, way before he split from her mom when she was 11. She still spent time with him in New York most summers, except for the past year when she was able to drive.
“Sure, so Char has prepared some routines, and we also have new uniforms coming, I know that was a huge deal for you, so for cheer practice this evening, I’ll be handing out the new uniform. And we have a new mascot on the team.” He gestured to the opening behind us.
Our mascot was a panda wearing a Mighty Marin Pandas top. He ran through, parting us to stand beside Mr. June. He gestured with a large grin. “Also, a new senior, who according to files was home-schooled up until this year,” Mr June said. “Say hello to our new Paddy the Panda!”
The student inside pulled the head of the mascot slightly, before tugging at it completely. “Well, looks like this is my life now,” he chuckled.
We snickered as he pulled at the costume, finally pulling himself free.
Kaleb?
Chapter Four
Kaleb didn’t say much, he smiled like he knew we’d be on the cheer squad. I’d probably told him about the school we went to or Char had let slip the wet dream about cheerleaders every guy had after he’d taken a seat at the bar beside me. He looked different in daylight, no bruising on his face and a boyish smile. It had been almost a week without a word from him. Almost like he’d forgotten about us.
I laid on the grassy track field, staring into the clear blue sky.
“He’s cute,” Ava said. “Thought he was older.” She threw her pom-poms at me.
“I told you he was our age.” I threw the pom-poms back.
“Is he staying for the game?” Libby asked.
I shrugged, pushing myself up on my elbows. “He still hasn’t said anything.”
Ava shot a hand in the air. “I’ll do it.”
“Make sure to ask why he’s here,” I said.
Char sat beside me. “Still talking about him?”
“What’s the deal with him?” Hannah asked.
He was in view, pulling himself from the costume. His hair stuck to the side of his face with sweat.
“He’s textbook creeper,” Char said. “Homeschooled until senior year. Who does that?”
Mr. June called us into the gymnasium. The basketball team was already in a circle on the court. Dylan had the basketball under an arm as he spoke to the team from the center. He stood with Coach Iñez. I’d heard his talk before; he’d practiced it with me to see how inspiring it was. He was a natural leader.
“Listen up,” Mr. June said, gesturing us to gather around. “The Lakeside Lions are headed our way. The game starts in 2 hours, so people, family, friends, will be arriving. We’ll need to pump up the crowd and amp up the team.” He placed a hand in the center. “Ready?” He nodded. “One, two, three!”
“We’ll do great,” Char said. “Now let’s stretch it out.”
Both groups stretched and warmed up on the court; slipping into splits to get every angle stretched out. I stood upright and stretched out my arms. Dylan grabbed at my waist from behind. He kissed the side of my neck.
“PDA,” I laughed. I turned in his arms and kissed him back.
“Looking forward to the dance tonight,” he said. “Got someth
ing special afterward.”
Conscious of the eyes on us. I giggled. “What is it?”
“Wouldn’t be special if I told you.”
The mascot bumped into us, catching the ball. It was part of a planned routine, not the bumping part but the ball catch. They didn’t have it quite down. Dylan pushed him away, mumbling something.
“Who’s that jackass?” he said, rolling his shoulders.
I shrugged. “New mascot.”
“Gotta be new.” He laughed. “Is he the home school kid? He’s in my English.”
“Dylan!” Coach Iñez called out, blowing his whistle. “I’m sure the cheer squad needs her more than you right now.”
Dylan left, and an amble-footed mascot walked over. He pulled the head from the panda costume to reveal the sweat down his face. “Sorry,” he said, combing his hair back. “It’s hard to see in this thing.”
“That’s fine,” I said, cocking my hand on a hip. “Weren’t you gonna say hi?”
He laughed. “You wanted me to?”
“Well, we wanted to know why you’re here.”
“My brothers gave me school books and every few months I took tests at some crappy half-way school,” he said.
“And?”
“And after you guys were served, I told them I wanted a real school. Besides, the main reason was my older brother’s DUI,” he laughed, “my other brother is always too focused on the bar anyway.”
“So, they won’t be here tonight?”
“Hope not.”
“But they’re such fun to have around.”
He grinned. “Nah. The weekend is big business.”
“Zo!” Char screeched. “Get your butt over here.”
I shrugged. “Please make the basket tonight.”
Char pulled me into the crowd by an arm. “No,” she said, “we don’t need him to know about us.”
Ava grabbed at my other arm. “But he’s pretty cute,” she said. “Introduce me; I wanna see how much of a bad boy he is.”
“Just speak to him,” I said.
“Or not,” Char added. “He’s the mascot, and you know who gets with the mascot? The band geeks.”
Prom Queen of Disaster Page 3