One Kiss Left

Chapter 32

                            Valentina's POV

The morning of the competition was buzzing with excitement and nerves. Our bus was filled with the chatter of cheerleaders, the hum of last-minute practice, and the occasional burst of laughter. Gina and I were sitting together, messing around and talking about anything and everything to keep our minds off the looming performance.

"Did you pack extra socks?" Gina asked, poking me in the side.

"Of course I did. What do you take me for, a rookie?" I teased back, nudging her with my shoulder.

We laughed, but my phone buzzed in my pocket, making me freeze. I pulled it out, half-expecting another threatening message. My heart pounded, but to my relief, it was from Heaven.

Hey

I stared at the screen, unsure how to respond. Before I could overthink it, I slipped the phone back into my pocket, leaving her on read. A minute later, my phone buzzed again.

Please text me back. I'm really sorry about everything.

Gina noticed my hesitation. "Who's that?"

"No one," I lied, not wanting to explain. She raised an eyebrow but let it go. I still didn't want to tell Gina about Heaven and I. I know she probably thinks that I'm hiding something from her, but I also don't want to ruin Heaven's reputation.

My phone buzzed again.

I know I messed up. Can we please talk?

I sighed, giving in. I hate that she has this effect on me.

What is it, Heaven?

Her response was immediate.

I'm sorry for how I acted. I just... I didn't know what to do.

It's fine.

I typed back, my fingers trembling slightly.

Let's just focus on the competition.

You'll do great, Val. I know it.

Her confidence in me made my heart flutter. I know I should be hating her right now, but I know that I have feelings for her, and that won't go away anytime soon.

Thanks, Hev. You too.

There was a pause before she sent her next message.

You looked really cute yesterday, by the way.

I blushed, smiling at the screen.

Oh yeah? What part of me did you like best?

All of you. But your smile... it's my favorite.

I bit my lip, trying to hide my grin. Gina noticed and nudged me again. "What's got you grinning like that?"

"Nothing," I said, brushing it off. "Just a funny meme."

She rolled her eyes but didn't press further. As our conversation with Heaven wrapped up, I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes, the steady rhythm of the bus lulling me to sleep.

---

The next thing I knew, we were in New York. The city was alive with energy, the buildings towering above us, and the streets bustling with people. It was breathtaking.

Coach Sanders stood at the front of the bus, clipboard in hand. "Alright, everyone, listen up! I've assigned your rooms. Gina, you're with Stephanie. Valentina and Heaven, you're together."

Gina groaned. "Seriously? Why do I get Stephanie?"

I laughed. "Good luck, Gina. Try not to kill her."

She shot me a glare but couldn't help but chuckle. "Thanks for the encouragement, Val."

Heaven tried to argue. "Coach, can't we switch? I mean—"

Coach Sanders cut her off. "It's final, Heaven. Get your things and head to your rooms."

We made our way to the hotel room, and as soon as we walked in, we noticed there was only one bed. Heaven sighed, shaking her head. "Of course."

I shrugged. "Could be worse."

We started getting ready for the competition, slipping into our white and gold cheer uniforms. They shimmered under the room's light, making us look like stars ready to take the stage. After finishing our makeup, we headed to the lobby to meet the rest of the team.

The ride to the competition venue was filled with nervous energy. I couldn't stop fidgeting, my stomach churning with anxiety. Gina noticed and placed a calming hand on my shoulder. "You've got this, Val. We all do."

Heaven texted me from across the bus.

You're going to be amazing. Just breathe.

I smiled at her encouragement and took a deep breath, feeling a bit more at ease.

---

When we arrived at the competition, the reality of it all hit me. The venue was huge, with banners and teams from other schools all bustling around. We did our Wildcats chant, the sound echoing through the halls and boosting our morale.

"Let's warm up," Heaven said, taking charge. We moved through our stretches and drills, doing jumps, stunts, and tumbling passes to loosen up and get in the zone.

Finally, it was showtime. The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Wildcats from Looma High School! Led by their coach, Coach Sanders, and their captain, Heaven!"

We took our positions, the music starting. Our routine was flawless—high-energy, synchronized, and powerful. We executed every move with precision, our stunts soaring and our dance moves sharp. Heaven led us with unmatched charisma, and I could feel the energy from the crowd feeding into our performance.

As we finished our final stunt, landing perfectly, the audience erupted in applause. We rushed off the stage, hugging each other and celebrating our success.

"We did it!" I shouted, my heart racing with excitement. "You all were amazing!"

Coach Sanders gathered us around. "Great job, everyone. Now let's watch the other teams and see what we're up against."

We sat together, watching the other schools perform. They were good, each team bringing their own unique style and strengths to the floor. I admired their skills, noting how different their routines were—some focusing on intricate dance moves, others on powerful stunts.

Finally, the moment of truth arrived. The announcer took the stage again, ready to reveal the winners. My heart pounded as I held hands with Gina and Heaven, waiting for the results.

"And the winner is... the Wildcats from Looma High!"

We erupted in cheers, hugging each other in excitement. The joy was overwhelming, but it was short-lived. Something horrific happened, shattering our moment of triumph and leaving us in stunned silence.

Lmaooo, sorry for leaving you guys with that cliffhanger 🧍🏽‍♀️ I had to!