SHE'S NOT AFRAID! - G. PORTER

four!

Gina had been spending every free moment she had practicing with Tucker for the tryouts. The two of them would wake up early before school, she would run suicides and he would time her and critique her form.

During lunch they met in the weight room, telling their friends that they had signed up for tutoring for the AP bio test with the teacher. While everyone just assumed they were reviewing mitosis, Tucker was counting Gina's reps, making sure she could do just as many as most of the guys on the team.

Before cheer practice Gina would run laps, recording her time and sending it to Tucker who had physical therapy for his leg. Then late at night when the field was free and both of them had their dinner, they would meet up and review elements that actually pertained to playing the position of the kicker.

"Yeah, just make sure the you keep your foot angled when you kick the football." Tucker corrected the girl.

The made a kicking motion, slowing down before her foot made contact with the ball. "Like this?" She confirmed.

"Perfect."

Tucker nodded. "Well done Gina. I think you've mastered it." The two high-fived.

After that, Gina actually collapsed onto the ground. "Thank god!" She cheered. After taking a moment to revel in her accomplishments, she sat up. "Do you think I'm gonna get it?" She asked, almost as if it was strange that she was asking such a thing.

Tucker, who was admiring the stars, looked over at the girl. "Hm?"

"Do you think I'm gonna get the part. Or, you know, am I gonna make the team?" Gina repeated.

Tucker shrugged. "Honestly, I wish I knew." He replied. "If anyone deserves it, it's you. And I mean, it's only been like a week but you've been pouring everything you've got into this plus you've been balancing cheer. I don't see how you wouldn't get on the team, Gi."

"I really, really hope you're right. Cheerleading almost seems boring after a week of this." Gina joked, giggling.

She was about say something else, when her watch started indicating that she was getting a call, "E.J.'s calling me." She announced.

"Answer it," Tucker told her, "We can do the cool down stretches after you get off the phone."

Gina nodded in agreement with his proposition, and went over to her gym bag, fishing out her phone. "Hey, what's up?" She said, upon answering the call.

E.J. let out a breathy laugh before responding, "Hey, um, I'm just wondering what you're up to! I'm at your house but your mom said you weren't home... are you at Katie's or something?" E.J. asked, and Gina could hear the nervousness in his voice.

Gina's smile from hearing E.J.'s voice quickly faded when she remembered that she would have to, once again, lie to him about her engagements. "Oh, I- I'm at the skatepark with Ricky and Big Red. They wanted me to record them doing some tricks. Something about the Olympics? I don't know- you know how they are." Gina quickly lied, bringing a hand up to her neck to fiddle with her necklace - a nervous habit of hers - but then instantly remembering she took it off for practice.

"Oh, okay." She could practically see E.J. deflating, "Maybe we could plan something for later in the week. We have the stupid tryouts for the new kicker on Thursday, but that shouldn't take to long, and maybe we could do something after."

Gina's face went red upon hearing E.J. mention her upcoming tryout. "Oh- um. Okay. Yeah. I'll let you know." She responded shortly. "Look, I hate to do this but I've gotta let you go. It looks like Red is about to fumble the trick and I don't wanna miss catching it on camera!" Gina laughed anxiously.