𝑳𝑬𝑺𝑺𝑶𝑵𝑺 & 𝑳𝑨𝒀𝑼𝑷𝑺

𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑬; 𝑱𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑶𝑼𝑺𝒀

WEDNESDAY

The sun had just started to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the field as Sloane and the rest of the cheer team practiced their halftime routine. Energy buzzed through the air, a mix of nervousness and excitement for the first basketball game of the season. Sloane's muscles ached from the intense practice sessions over the past week, but she was ready. This was her moment to shine.

"Alright, one more time,from the top!" coach Harper shouted, clapping her hands to get everyone's attention. "Remember, precision is key. We need to wow the crowd."

Sloane adjusted her position, taking a deep breath. The music blared from the speakers, and they launched into their routine. Moves flowed seamlessly, each cheerleader perfectly synchronized with the others. Sloane felt the familiar rush of adrenaline as they executed a flawless stunt,her heart pounding in time with the beat.

As they finished, Coach Harper grinned. "Great job, everyone! That's exactly what I want to see tonight. Let's call it a day and get ready for the game. Meet in the locker room in 2 hours."

In the locker room, the cheer team was buzzing with excitement. Everyone was talking about the game, the crowd, and their hopes for a win. Sloane changed into her cheer uniform, the fabric snug and comfortable against her skin. She took a moment to check her reflection, ensuring her hair and makeup were perfect.

"You ready for tonight?" Alicia asked her as she was putting on lipgloss.

"Absolutely," Sloane replied, tying her sneakers.

The cheerleaders lined up, ready to take their places for the game's start. The gym was packed, as usual, the roar of the crowd deafening as the teams took to the court. Sloane spotted Paige among the basketball players, her intense focus evident even from a distance.

The game started with a burst of energy, both teams playing hard. Sloane and the cheer team kept the crowd hyped, their cheers echoing through the gym. Paige was on fire, scoring points with ease and driving the crowd wild with her skill and the whole team seemed to be in a good mood, being up by 27.

As halftime approached, Sloane felt the familiar thrill of anticipation. They took their positions on the court, ready to perform. The music started, and they launched into their routine, every move executed with precision and energy. The crowd cheered, their applause a wave of sound that washed over Sloane, filling her with pride.

After the routine, Sloane and her team high-fived each other, their excitement palpable. They headed back to the sidelines as the basketball teams returned to the court. Paige walked past, her eyes briefly meeting Sloane's with a small, confident smile.

In the locker room during halftime, Paige wiped sweat from her forehead, breathing heavily from the intensity of the game. She took a moment to compose herself before heading back out to the court. As she stepped out, her eyes immediately found Sloane on the court performing, her cheerleading uniform perfectly hugging her figure. Paige's heart skipped a beat, but then she noticed something that made her blood boil.

Nayo Lear, a player from the opposing team, was sitting on the bench, her eyes locked onto Sloane. There was an unmistakable look of admiration and interest in Nayo's gaze, and Paige felt a surge of jealousy. She clenched her fists, to keep herself in check. Even though the sight of Nayo watching Sloane the same way she did made her stomach churn.

The second half of the game began, and Paige seemed to have an extra fire in her. She played with a level of intensity that was both impressive and slightly alarming. Sloane could see the determination in every move, every shot. Late in the third quarter, Paige went up to block a shot against Nayo, and their collision was hard and deliberate which ended with Nayo on the ground.

The referee blew the whistle, calling a foul on Paige. She raised her hands, feigning innocence, but the look on her face told a different story. Everyone could see it wasn't an accident which earned her a disappointed and confused look from Geno.

Despite the tension, that everyone could feel, the game continued, and
Uconn pulled ahead. By the final buzzer, they had secured a win. The crowd erupted in cheers, the players celebrating on the court. Paige looked triumphant, her earlier aggression forgotten in the euphoric feeling of victory.

Sloane made her way through the crowd of people, in an effort to get back to the locker room but before she could get there Nayo approached, a confident smile on her face.

"Hey, great halftime." Nayo said, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "You were amazing.

"Aww thank you." Sloane replied, feeling a bit flustered by the attention.

"Can I get your number?" Nayo asked, her tone casual but her gaze intense.

Sloane hesitated for a moment, "Sure," she said, taking out her phone and quickly entering her number into Nayo's phone.

"Thanks," Nayo said, her smile widening. "Maybe we can hang out sometime."

"Yeah, maybe," Sloane replied, feeling a strange mix of excitement and guilt knowing she wasn't completely over Paige."

Meanwhile, Paige had seen the whole interaction and was now storming into the locker room, her face flushed with anger. She quickly took off her uniform, her movements sharp and angry. The rest of the team sensed the tension, giving her space as they celebrated their win.

As Paige packed up her backpack
and was about to leave. Nika stopped her. "Yo P, there's a party tonight to celebrate the game, and I heard the cheer teams going and so are we, you down?" Paige hesitantly agreed not wanting to be the one to let her team down.

Despite agreeing Paige didn't want to go for obvious reasons, knowing she would see Sloane but she couldn't be mad at anyone but herself since she was the one that said they should be just friends, but now she was just a little hurt knowing that Sloane did in fact like girls, just not her.

A/N: Yall may be mad noww but just wait i promise it's going to get better, sooner than you think😅

love you all!

-lea

July 20 2024