I woke up one morning like I do every day, and it felt like something should be different. As I started to go downstairs I ignored it and I suddenly lurched forward; I had fallen over a mini race car my brother had conveniently left on the stairs. "Alex!" I shouted in frustration, "Pick up your toys!" I heard my mum yelling back to not be mean to my sibling. I scoffed in response and trudged into the kitchen and grabbed the cereal. I sat at the table with the milk poured and switched my phone on silent. I would say it was because of people making my phone buzz. 'Cause for that to happen people would have to actually message me.
*
I wondered through the corridors trying to find literally anyone else. After a while of boringly searching for people I heard music being blasted through speakers and followed it to the sports hall. I walked inside only to find a pep rally in progress. I snuck around the action, and took a seat next to a person I couldn't tell you the name of. It was in the middle of the gym squad's dance routine. I always thought gym was a bit pointless to be honest. I reckon I just goes on for a while and is just all pizazz.
*
I was walking out of the hall after everyone was gone – I thought – when I heard a muffled whining sound from somewhere in the bleachers. I stopped in the doorway and turned around. I saw a girl in gym uniform sitting with her head in her hands. I jogged up to where she was sitting. I decided not to say anything but I sat three seats away from her. Then two. Then I sat down next to her. She looked at me rolling her head briefly out of her hands, then said, "Can I help you?" "No. Can I help you?" I replied breezily. "No.Maybe? Depends, can you get me back on the cheer team? I was," sniff, "kicked." I paused. "Oh. Sorry. Can I ask why?" "Promise not to tell anyone? As childish as it sounds?" I nodded. "They homophobes." I froze, "What?"
"Yeah, the lot of them. Well, half. Then the other half are too scared to say that they think it's wrong for the fear of being excluded. So..." "You said something. Didn't you?" She nodded slowly. "Don't judge me or anything." She said sounding a little annoyed. "I won't. If anything I'm very happy you did that, or else I probably would've myself." "Cheers." There was a minute of silence before we spoke again. "I'm Alice." "Nikki." I replied.
*
Every day after every pep rally I met Alice at the bleachers and we became friends. Then, we became more than that...
