Teaching Erik to love

cheer leading dreams

"How long does it take you girls to get ready!" Erik teased as I swung my bag over my shoulder. "Not long" I said playfully and stuck my tongue out at him. "You're going to be late for cheer leading" my mother reminded us softly. "Blame her!" Erik told my mother, Jennifer, as he pointed at me accusingly. I laughed. "Come on you" I told him. "Wha-" Erik spluttered as I cut him off with a burst of giggles. "Seriously, Erik we're going to be late" I told him. Erik sighed dramatically and waved his arms in the direction of the door.  "You're carriage awaits, my lady" Erik told me, reffering to his car. I snorted.

Erik rolled his eyes playfully and opened my door for me. One of the great things about Erik was that despite his upbringing, he always remembered his manners. Our relationship was so easy and carefree and the constent playfullness was always in the air. 

Our local gym where we practised cheer leading three days a week (Wednesdays, Saturdays and Mondays) was only ten minutes down the road from me so we were quite lucky, really. Erik only lived a couple of blocks away which also meant that he could pick me up on his way, no problems. 

Erik and I had met eachother for the first time at cheer leading practice at the age of three years old for tiny tots, but as we got older it was something we both carried on with and loved with a passion. Erik and I quickly became fast friends basically as soon as we'd met and were pleased to find that we had enrolled at the same schools as eachother. It was nice to see a friendly face on your first day of school. 

When we arrived we raced to the changing room with only four minutes to spare until the class started. The semi-finals were coming up and they were extremly important to everyone in our team. Our cheer instruction, Judy, had also had hints that a Scout would also be present. This made everyone even more nervous. It meant that some of us would have the chance to win an incredible scholarship! 

I knew that Erik didn't just want the scholarship, but he also needed it. His father planned to kick him out at the age of sixteen after graduation and a free scholarship at college would give him a chance to get some work and qualifications whilst being able to make money for himself. Only I knew about Erik's father and his awful home life, as Erik was a very quiet and guarded person. 

"Lauren, backn straight!" Holly my cheer leading instructor told me sharply, "and make those flips perfect! There's no room for mistakes here!" Then she added "Erik's flips however were beautifully alligned, and you could tell that he had been practising". "Perfect, Erik" Holly ammended to Erik, "you've been practising" she eyed the rest of us accusingly, "unlike some people" she muttered. My face blazed red with embaressement.

Erik couldn't help but notice my embaressment. He patted my back sympathetically. "Don't worry about it" Erik told me, "I expect she's just having a bad day." "Like every lesson" I muttered. Erik laughed. "Come on" he told me, "I'll help you pratice your flips. Then Holly won't have anything to complain about, okay?" "Okay" I told Erik and smiled at him, "thanks." "No problems" Erik replied with an easy grin, "all in a days work."