Heartstrings

Chapter 21: School Spirit

Emma's Perspective

I've always had a strong distaste for pep rallies. The loud screaming gave me a headache, the entire school piling into the gymnasium made me claustrophobic, and the unabashed, unbridled worshipping of the football team always left me wishing for an early grave.

Don't get me wrong, I watched every football game and knew what was going on. But did I think it deserved the attention it got? No. There were plenty other sports that were more successful than the football team that didn't receive any recognition or support from the school. Besides, the only reason I even watched the games in the first place was to support Jake and Sam and be there for them if they got hurt, so I'd never quite seen the need to attend the rallies.

But instead of skipping the pep rally today to hide out in an empty classroom or sneak home, Jake had all but begged me to come. He swore to me that he hated them just as much as I did, but just wanted to know I was there.

It was the day of the state championship and you would have thought it was the last day ever of school with how little anyone got done. In fourth block I kept my eyes peeled on Ms. Hagerty as she discussed our latest assignment, Heart of Darkness - a book I viscerally hated.

I'd learned by now that I couldn't look over at Jake during class because he'd either make me laugh or blush and Ms. Hagerty was sure to notice both. So when a paper football came flying at me, hitting me in the cheek I turned to him with a scolding stare.

He mimed for me to open it, and I rolled my eyes, knowing he couldn't do anything about it while we were in class. I opened the first flap of the folded triangle, and read -

Do you know how hard it is to look at you for an hour and a half and not be able to touch or kiss you?

I unfolded the next flap -

Part of me wants to just skip this stupid rally and go home and get into bed with you.

Blush rose to my cheeks and I unfolded the last flap to find a drawing of us lying together in a field. It was really good, too - I was actually rather disappointed that he'd folded the drawing up so many times to make the note.

I looked up at him and he winked at me as a voice came over the intercom -

- Can all football team members report to the gym for the pep rally.

Sighing, I reluctantly watched Jake gather his things and leave class. I looked down at the drawing until I heard the same old southern draw of the school secretary -

- Can all seniors report to the gym for the pep rally.

I gathered my books and left class, stopping at my locker to fetch my bookbag. The hallways were decorated with party crepes, balloons, and poster signs. Voices buzzed all around me as I made my way to the gym, and students shoved by me to get the best seats.

As I walked through the doors, the band's loud fight songs filled my ears and the scantily clad cheerleaders bent over into splits and stretches as they waited for students to pile in. I spotted an empty row, far up at the top of the stands and made a beeline for it.

I'd hoped to hide, tucked up and away in my own little aerie, but I made an exception for Lucía when she asked to join me. She and I talked until the gym was full of hundreds upon hundreds of students, and we exchanged uneasy looks as the cheerleaders began to lead the rally with their provocative dances and acrobatic moves.

When the football team finally filed in, player by player, the crowd erupted when Jake walked in - I'd sort of forgotten what a big deal he was.