WILDFIRE ↝ E. MUNSON

[3]

"Let's go, Tigers!" Lily exclaimed, holding up her pom-poms to shake as she plastered a cheery smile onto her face.

The sound of sneakers skidding against the hardwood floor echoed in Lily's ears along with the cheers of the fans packed in the bleachers, though a sharp whistle cut through the air as the coach called for a time out, with only ten seconds remaining on the clock, Hawkins down by one point at 68-69.

"Alright Cheer Squad, are we ready?" Chrissy asked the group as she began to count off to start their routine.

Lily attempted to keep her eyes on the crowd while they cheered through the routine, but she snuck a glance in Patrick's direction while the team conversed. His eyes met hers, an anxious look on his face, but she gave him an encouraging nod, which he returned before looking back at where the team were all putting their hands in the middle.

The whistle blew again, the Tiger Cheer Squad taking their seats as everyone in the room watched with bated breath as Andy passed the ball to Jason. The boy went in for the shot, and Lily's heart lurched in her chest as it bounced off the backboard and onto the rim before rolling back towards the sea of players ready to catch the rebound.

Lucas attempted to catch the ball, locked in a brief face-off with a player from the opposing team before the ball dropped between them, beginning to roll away. He went after it, picking it up and pivoting on one foot until he was facing the net again. The timer was nearing down with one second remaining as he jumped up, aiming for the net as he released the basketball.

The gymnasium was silent except for the buzzer announcing the end of the game as the orange ball soared through the air, over the heads of the other players, who had stopped their playing to watch its path. Everyone rose out of their seats to watch as the ball spun around the rim, hitting the backboard before falling through the net.

Lily and the others jumped up and down in excitement as the crowd erupted in cheers for the Hawkins Tigers. She and Chrissy jumped into each other's arms in an excited hug as the basketball team all crowded around Lucas, lifting the freshman boy into the air in celebration. The cheerleaders ran to join them, waving their pom-poms, and Lily didn't miss the shocked look on Lucas's face as they carried him across the floor.

"Lily!" Patrick shouted, wrapping his arms around the redhead and lifting her off the ground, spinning her around victoriously as she laughed.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as he set her back down, the boy leaning in and kissing her swiftly. They broke apart at the feeling of Andy using Patrick's shoulders as leverage to jump into the air, the boys laughing as the team began to make their way back to the locker rooms, the cheerleaders packing up their own gear to take back to their lockers.

At her locker, Lily quickly traded her pom-poms for her Tiger Cheer Squad cardigan, her name embroidered across the front pocket in dark green thread. As she made her way out into the night, excitement buzzed in the air as fans honked their horns in celebration of Hawkins High's victory that evening. The team was soon behind her, changed into their clothes for the celebratory after-party with duffel bags slung over their shoulders.

"Party at Benny's, boys!" Jason called out as he broke apart from the rest of the team, and Patrick turned back towards Lily as they neared his car.

"Are you coming tonight?" he asked her, and she nodded.

"I'll be there," she assured him, taking a quick glance down at her itchy cheer uniform. "I'm just going to run home and change, and then I'll meet you there?"

"Sounds good," he said. "Drive safe,"

"You too," she said, turning away from him and back to where Lucas was now walking with his older sister, Sarah Sinclair, as well as the ride home she'd been counting on that evening, her best friend, Deborah Buckley, who stood next to her younger sister Robin.