𝙋𝙀𝙍𝙁𝙀𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 || EDDIE MUNSON

Practice Makes Perfect

BRANDY let out a huff as she bent down into her stretch. Tate was rambling about something while sitting next to her doing butterfly stretches. Sometimes she tuned out her friends, she didn't mean to and she felt horrible about it, but she couldn't control it sometimes. They would always repeat themselves at least four times anyway, so she was never too worried about it. Brandy moved from her sitting toe touch, adjusting her hips into a middle split. The action caused a bit of tension on her inner thighs, making her realize just how little she had really stretched that summer.

"Brandy? Are you listening?" The teen turned to look at the girl next to her.

"Sorry what?" Brandy shook her head.

"I asked what was up with you at lunch," Tate repeated.

"Oh," Brandy mumbled, "I just felt kind of stuffy," She shrugged.

"Bullshit," Tracie said walking into the gym, her Hawkins cheer sweater tied around her waist. "There's something wrong with you,"

"There's nothing wrong with me," Brandy tried to shake her head with a laugh, only for her nonchalant reassurance to be met with looks of disbelief and skepticism. "What?" She asked nearly offended by their facial expressions. "Tell them, Chrissy," Brandy looked at her friend, waiting for her to defend her. "Chrissy?"

"I don't know BB," Chrissy shook her head. "You've been acting weird for the past two days,"

"It doesn't have anything to do with that Munson kid does it?" Tate asked.

"No," Brandy quickly said. "No, not at all,"

"Then what's up with you?" Tracie asked.

"I don't know," Brandy rubbed her arm, feeling her ears heat up and her stomach twist and turn in nervousness. "Guess I've just been a little stressed from school and the anniversary, it makes it hard to talk to people."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Tate asked with guilt laced in her voice.

"Yeah, you know you can talk to us about things right?" Tracie told her.

"I just didn't really want to bother people, it's not that important. I mean I kind of over-exert myself so it's a self-made downfall," She tried to joke.

"We know you over-exert yourself, that's why we're here," Chrissy said with sincerity shining in her eyes, walking over to Tate and Brandy, and sitting on the floor with them.

"Well now I feel left out," Tracie laughed, bouncing over to them and plopping down.

"We should take you out," Chrissy suggested.

"I agree," Tate nodded. "It's been way too long since we've had a girl's day," She looked at her three friends. "Besides," She shrugged holding up her hand. "I need to get my nails done." She smirked. The girls broke into giggles, enjoying their much-needed time together. It was like all the feelings that she had felt earlier were dissipated. Sure her friends could be a bit blunt, or rude, or even uncourteous. But they were her friends, and even with all that, they cared about her. It was just up to Brandy to keep her nose clean of a 'bitchy' reputation.

"What are we giggling about?" a voice asked. The girls looked up to see their coach, standing there his hands tucked behind his back politely.

"Girl stuff," Tate said with a shake of her head.

"Hope you ladies are up for a bit of tumbling today, Mrs. Kirby still hasn't told me any routine she wants for you girls," Mr. Kim said adjusting his sweater vest. "So I guess I just got to keep you on your toes eh?"

The girls broke into a fit of laughter once again after Mr. Kim had walked away to talk to the other cheer team members across the gym. The elderly man was trying his best with their other coach on leave. But Brandy craved routine, by now she would have learned it or at least almost memorized it. But for now, the cheer squad was stuck doing simple gymnastics.