I'm Fine

Chapter Three - Nico

January 

I do love cheerleading practice. No, it's not because these outfits are super adorable, it's because I am honored to admire the most amazing woman I've ever seen, Adrianna.

This woman is not only so attractive, but she is also so fierce. At the beginning of this year, she decided to join the school's football team. She was not only new to the school, but she was also the only girl ever to attempt to join the team. The school and coach obviously let her join, to avoid any speculations, but the team was not so welcoming.

Poor Adrianna was bullied so severely for joining the team, hazed even. But she held her own, and with the help of the football captain, Bryson, she was able to show them just how unstoppable she was.

I remember the first football game like it was yesterday. The crowd was hyped, the team was hyped, and of course, the cheerleaders were doing their thing. Then out of nowhere, the whistle blows, and she takes off like a speeding bullet. She dominated the first game and scored most of the team's points all by herself. It was incredible, and honestly, I think that was the night I started to fall in love with Adrianna.

I had to pull myself back to reality before anyone else noticed me gawking across the room. Most of the basketball team hated that we practiced in the same gym.

"Nico, you ready?" Stacy questioned as we prepared for a lift.

"You know it." I replied as I made my way to the back to support the flyer's ankles.

Just as the base finished the countdown, we lifted Stacy into the sky. She was attempting a new stunt, and honestly, I was a little nervous.

I held onto her ankles as hard as possible, giving her as much support, but her right ankle started to tremble in my hand. I looked up to see if she might fall, prepared to catch her, when I heard the most obnoxious voice boom from across the gym.

"See, I think Nico has the right idea," Lonny yelled as he made his way towards the squad. We quickly dismounted the lift, bringing the flyer back down safely.

"Can I help you, Lonny?" I announced as I stepped in front of the girls, prepared to protect them from whatever words he wanted to throw our way. Lonny not only hates the cheerleaders, mostly because none of them will date him, but he really hates me.

"I just found out what your secret was." He stated obnoxiously.

"Honey, I'm an open book, there are no secrets." I snapped back as I got closer to him, towering over the scrawny guy in front of me.

"No, see you're only pretending to be gay so you can look up girls' shorts all day. Honestly, bro, that's genius." He joked as he waited for a high five.

I don't give him that, in fact, I'm not even giving him a response because I know that none of that is true. Sure, I'm attracted to Adrianna, but it's not because she's a woman it's because of who she is.

Not once did I admire one of my fellow squad members in that way. I am their safety net; I am there to catch them when they fall, not to be a perv.

"Seriously dude, this whole, I'm a guy, but I want to be a girl thing is getting old. You played it out last year, but shouldn't you have grown out of it by now?" Lonny spat.

"Shouldn't you have grown up by now?" I mocked as I continued to tower over him. He took a few steps back, boosting my ego a little bit.

"Hey, be that way, but you're still a dude to me, and I will not hesitate to punch that perfectly polished face of yours." He uttered as he started to turn away from me.

"Aww, you think I'm perfectly polished. Lonny, stop flirting with me." I blushed, trying to get under his skin. It worked, and the next thing I knew, there was a fist flying at me.