Masks.

Chapter 1 Undercover Cheerleader

I know what you're thinking. Well maybe not everything, but at least about this book. You think it will be a lovey book where everyone lives happily ever after. Well it's not. This story is real life. In real life things don't always go the way you want them to.

Maya
"Awww is little Riley gonna cry?"
I laughed as I pushed her against the wall. She lost her balance and hit the floor with a thud. My best friend Lana towered over Riley, casting a shadow on the brick.
"Now give us the answers to your dad's next quiz and no one gets hurt."
Riley cowered in the corner, I think I saw a tear drop.
"For the millionth time I don't know! Just leave me alone already!"
Lana let out a cackle.
"Oh please! How else do you get such good grades in that class?! Obviously your daddy gives you all the answers!"
Riley jumped onto her feet and stared me in the eyes.
"Maybe I get good grades because I actually study! Of course you two wouldn't know how to do that!"
I took a step closer, pressing Riley's back against the wall. She doesn't scare me at all.
"Listen you little-"
"Hey! What's going on here?"
Lana and I jumped away from Riley and turned around to smile at the incredibly handsome boy standing there.
"Oh us? Nothing, we were just telling Riley about the homework we have tonight."
The boy nodded.
"Okay, come on Riley. Dad has to work late so I'm taking you home."
Wait a minute! This boy is Riley's brother?! How is that genetically possible?! They started to leave, but I grabbed Riley's wrist.
"You're lucky big brother was here to save you. Next time you won't be so fortunate."
I whispered into her ear.
They slowly walked away and Lana grabbed my arm.
"Come on! We're gonna be late for cheerleading practice!"

I let her drag me to the gym. Honestly I'm only on the cheer team to keep up my popular reputation. Everyone just expects me to be the captain. It's kind like the code of being queen bee.
"Let's go girls!"
I heard the coach yell in the gym. That's another thing I hate about cheer, Sheri the coach. Our school is one of the top all star teams in the country and Sheri likes to keep it that way. I ran out and started doing some back flips to warm up. Then I went into a bridge position and looked up to see the hottest guys in school. Not surprised really, they usually watch the practice. All except Lucas Friar. That boy is one big mystery and a troublemaker. It just makes sense for us to be together! I looked back and noticed all the boys staring at me, this time Lucas was here. Suddenly I lost my balance and fell flat on my back. Lucas got up and started walking towards my direction. This would be the perfect moment to say something cute to me like:
"Careful Maya, don't wanna be breaking that pretty little body of yours."
Instead he turned and left the gym. I groaned and got up myself, clearly no boys are willing to catch me when I fall.
Riley
I jumped into my brother Isaac's car and reached for the radio. He grabbed my hand.
"Not so fast little sis, we need to talk. What were you doing with those girls?"
I groaned. Isaac asks me all the time about school because he thinks I'm being picked on a lot. It's not that bad, I just imagine Maya and Lana getting their faces ripped off. Then that makes everything better.
"Don't worry! I'm not just a weak nerdy little girl. I can handle myself just fine."
He let the subject go and started talking about some football game. I stopped listening when I saw Lucas Friar walking out of the building. That boy is one hot piece of meat. What? Nerds deserve boyfriends too!
"Riley stop looking at that boy, you're practically drooling at him."
"I am not!"
I pouted crossing my arms. But Isaac is right. I shouldn't keep drooling over him, it's not like I even have a chance.
Maya
I rushed out of cheer practice all sweaty and gross. Of course no one was there to pick me up, so I settled on Lana to take me home.
"Where should we drop you off at?"
"Just this mansion on the left, I'm visiting my sister."
I jumped out of the car and waited until Lana was out of sight. Then I started walking in the other direction, towards a small fleabag motel. This is really where my sister Kelsey lives. I pushed open the dirtied glass door. George the owner tipped his hat at me as I went to the elevator. I come here a lot to help out Kelsey. I unlocked her door with my key, from out here I could hear all the noise. I shut the door behind me and went to find her.
"Hey Kels! You're phones ringing and the baby's crying!"
Kelsey had a baby when she was 18. She dropped out of her senior year and was kicked out by my dad. I was told not to even go look for her, but I couldn't help it. He still doesn't know I come here, any other dad wouldn't have been this clueless. Taylor, Kelsey's baby is about 9 months old now. I walked over to the play pen and started cradling Taylor to calm her down. Kelsey soon came out of the one bedroom, seems like she just woke up.
"Oh hey Maya. Sorry for all the noise, how was school?"
"Good. Did you find a job yet?"
Kelsey shook her head. The boy who got her pregnant conveniently went to a college across the country. So Kelsey is all on her own.
"Well maybe you should get on that then."
Kelsey rolled her eyes, but smirked at me.
"Hey I got an idea. How about you get some money from that rich little daddy of ours?"
My eyes widened.
"You mean like steal his money?!"
She nodded.
"He's been a douche to everyone ever since you know...the incident. The least he can do is provide for us!"
I groaned. Sometimes my sister is a little bit crazy.
"Look Maya just think it over and then come tomorrow with $500! Okay bye!"
She led me to the hallway and slammed the door in my face. Typical.