Despising you

Chapter 14

J e n n i e

My blood is still boiling beyond measure. Seeing Lisa bleeding yesterday sent my brain into a frenzy. I can't stop thinking about it; it's all I think about.

Fury coursed through my veins when I saw how hurt she was, so much that I wasn't even thinking straight when I snapped Irene's hand. I don't regret doing it though, not at all.

Not even for a second.

How dare she touch Lisa? Irene knows damn well that she's off limits. Was it extreme and borderline psychotic? Yes. Do I care? No.

I needed to make sure she never thinks about touching Lisa ever again. I'm only furious about it because if anyone caught Irene, I would have to answer for it and our whole cheer team would be in jeopardy. That's the only reason I care.

I really need to stop thinking about her, especially today. It's the final cheer tournament in an hour and I've spent the whole day torturing the team with vigorous practice. A bigger workload has fallen onto my shoulders now that Irene is resting at home because of her hand. She told everyone that she got into an accident and wants to quit cheerleading because of it.

I never lose. I won't be starting today. Honestly, I've been very extreme this time around, mostly because overworking is dissipating the tension and fury in my body.

For the first time in my life, I'm actually nervous about a tournament and I'm taking it out on my team.

"Can we take a break?" Grace asks snapping me out of my thoughts.

I turn to face her and she's heaving and panting. In fact, all the girls are; we're practicing for the fifth time in the practice room. All the girls are looking at me as if they despise me with every single bone in their body. I don't blame them, but at the same time, I don't really care. I'd rather they hate me and work hard, than love me and not work at all.

I'm ready to say no to Grace and order her to continue practicing, that is until she bolts toward the bin in the corner of the room and starts puking uncontrollably.

Jesus Christ.

I don't think twice before running toward her and holding her hair back for her. The rest of the team barrels towards us and we all ignore the stench of her vomit. After all, we are a team, we need to be there for her.

"Are you okay?" I ask rubbing her back, but she just responds by puking some more. God that smell is so awful.

The way she's puking isn't as if she's eaten something horrendous, it's more like there's nothing in her system. As she continues retching, I look toward her best friend, Danielle, and give her a questioning look. She knows everything about Grace and right now, she looks like she knows something important.

I want to know why she's puking and if I should hate myself for overworking her or if there's a bigger reason.

"She hasn't eaten for a few days," Danielle says with a sigh, her lip trembling.

What?

"What? Why?" I question out loud, deep down I probably already know the answer, I'm just hoping my suspicions aren't right.

Please, don't be right.

"I wanted to lose some weight to look good for the performance," she mumbles out groggily, her head still hovering over the bin.

For Pete's sake. I sigh loudly and look towards the rest of the girls who look just as shocked and disappointed as me. I have never pressured any girl on this team when it comes to weight. In fact, it's a cardinal rule that we don't body shame on this team, ever.