The rest of my day was spent revising the list that Ruby gave us and trying to get the choreography down as best as I could in any spare time I had. I'm now at home, getting changed into my 'fake' cheer leading uniform as Ruby called it. It's the correct uniform she just calls it fake because we aren't technically members yet.
Unfortunately, the kit is a little tight on me with my white tiger prints embedded on my upper thighs and around my hips. I embrace my marks but I can't help but feel a little uncomfortable in this outfit not because I look bad but because I know it will draw attention to certain areas. You know what, who cares, oh well, it will be fine. I stand in front of the mirror and place my hair in a tight ponytail and wrap the school's signature coloured red and black ribbon around my bobble and to finish off the look, my iconic red lip. I took one more look at the sheet, confidence spilling out of my body, I finally felt ready to take on round two. I just pray it goes smoothly.
I arrived at the sidelines of the court with the other girls and spotted Mia and Cassie, they waved me over.
"Damn girl, I don't think Jackson will be able to focus on the ball." Mia winks and playfully nudges me.
"Do I look ridiculous? I mean it's kind of small?" I smile shyly.
"Girl, you have curves in allllll the right places. I'd consider it a crime to not show them off. Jackson needs to want what he can't have." Cassie winks at me. I really love having these two in my life already, I forgot what it was like to have girlfriends. We head to the pile of pom poms and grab two each and huddle into a group, where Ruby was centred in the middle of the circle. This bitch literally thought we revolved around her...
"Right troupes, tonight commences round two. As instructed, you should know all the chants and routines so if you did your homework there shouldn't be any surprises. If you mess up or don't perform up to Titan standards, you will be cut after tonight's game. Round three will be explained in the locker room later. Good luck. Huddle up ladies, hands in."
We all put our hands in the middle and on the count of three we shout TITANS in unison. Mia proceeded to mock this in a stupid voice afterwards. I'm so glad we are all going through this together because we are truly going to need each other.
Lining up on the sidelines, we begin to cheer on the basketball team as they run out onto the court, my gaze instantly being met with Jacksons. His green eyes drink me in, scanning me from top to bottom, taking in every flaw, every asset and consuming them as his own. I gulped in anxiousness, what is he thinking? My question is soon answered when his eyebrows raise and 'the smirk' as I like to call it grows on his face. I try and return a smile but it kind of comes off as awkward, great now he thinks I'm a freak. He just laughs and shakes his head as he runs over to his teammates. Okay, maybe he likes my weirdness.
The game begins and Mia, Cassie and myself successfully manage to recite all the chants and routines whilst trying to look good; women really can multitask. It was half time and the girls were huddled talking about the game and any other pointless gossip when I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. I turn around to be greeted with pure masculinity...
"Are you impressed?" His deep voice kidnapped my ability to think straight, I just stand there in awe as he addresses me in front of the other girls. Luckily Ruby and her minions went on a drinks run otherwise I think she'd knock my head clean off my shoulders. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't impressed, it's obvious he's the best on the court. I take another route;
"I mean I was too busy waving my little pom poms to notice." I smile.
"Ahhh I see." He puts his fingers underneath his chiselled chin in pretend thought.
"Try to pay a bit more attention next time, I might surprise you." He returns my smile back in ignorance.
I snort. "I doubt that. " I fold my arms to look authoritative, I don't think it worked because he did that thing where he laughs and shakes his head at me.
"Watch and learn gorgeous-" he was cut off by his coach,
"Stop pouring your heart out Davis, this is basketball! Get your head in the game!" I giggle at his high school musical reference which stifles a laugh from Jackson as he leaves me with a wink... again.
Not much to my surprise, within 0.1 seconds of Jackson's departure I had two very excited, squealing girls run up to me.
"Oh my god! That was it!!!" Mia exclaims as she clasps her hands together.
I pull my eyebrows together in confusion "what was it?" Mia and Cassie give each other the 'is she serious look' as I try to comprehend Mia's dictionary.
"Stage 2 dummy! He claimed you. Right here in front of the other guys and basically the whole school. He's showing everyone who he wants! I actually need to sit down, this is too much!" Mia covers her belly with one hand and her mouth with the other as if she's about to throw up. I can't cope with this girl's dramatics.
"I wish you wouldn't use the word 'claim' I'm not some prize! If he thinks those two conversations are enough to woo me and fall at my feet, he really needs therapy. He just keeps giving me one liners and that stupid wink. What is with that anyway. And that stupid smirk I swear to god if-" I'm cut off by Cassie.
"Listen to yourself. Jackson is under your skin. His stages work and they're working quite peachy on you. We need to calm you down, you need to look not so available..."
Mia and Cassie exchange evil looks. Fabulous.
"You my darling, need to get another guy or guys, we aren't picky, to desire you. We need to make you the most desired girl in the whole of Southcrest High. Jackson has never had to compete before because he's always been the winner but this time, there's going to be a few more players. Tell me that wasn't a good speech, I felt like I was in a movie or something!" Mia laughs at herself.
"Mia, I actually think this could work. I don't actually want to date any of these other guys though, we're just making him jealous, right?" I ask. He needs to learn that he's not god's gift.
"Hell no. You don't even have to flirt back or seem too interested but the mere sight of other men wanting what Jackson Davis wants... I can see it already! I hope they physically fight over you so I can film it."
Cassie glares at Mia.
"Okay okay no fighting got it."
Ruby scurries back with the bottles of water which alerts us to drop the subject. I hope the other girls don't tell Ruby what they saw but if anything they didn't hear what was said.
The rest of the half goes as expected, with the Titans absolutely annihilating the opposing team and me and the girls killing it in round two. If me, Cassie and Mia don't make it past this round I'm suing because we didn't miss a single step. My thoughts are cut off by Ruby standing on the bench in the locker room.
"So, as you can see, there are significantly less of you then there were before-" I begin to look around the room and notice that around five girls have been cut. FIVE in one round. It's going to be hard to please this one.
"There won't be as many dropping out in the rest of the rounds, I just considered this one to be the most important, well because you know, you're actually cheering and if you can't do that then there's the door kind of thing. Anyway round three starts at the away game next week. Here, us and the basketball team travel to the away game and stay in a hotel for two nights. You will be given tasks to do to test your loyalty and commitment to the team. Until then, you will be given mini challenges which you can't be cut from but you will be being watched. For example, this weekend, there is a party at Jackson's house, we are automatically invited as the cheer leading squad. Here your social skills will be tested and as a titan, you are expected to mingle and represent the squad. That's all for now." She jumps down from the bench and her minions follow.
"Well the mini challenge shouldn't be hard. We will get ready at my house before the party on Friday and make sure we have our best 'mingling' skills ready." Mia explains to Cassie and I.
"Okay cool, I'm excited to properly meet everyone. Maybe this is where I can start 'mingling' with the other basketball players?" I smirk at my best friends.
"If one of you says 'mingle' one more time-" Cassie states, causing me and Mia to burst out laughing.
This was the happiest I had been In a long time. Game on.
YOU ARE READING
Passion is a Game
Romance" Stage 1 is working on you. That's what he wants, just for you to think about him maybe once maybe even twice. Just whatever you do, don't let him know that he's been on your mind. He thinks these little stages work, if you show him they don't work...
