Nothing is picture perfect

Chapter 8

40

"What do you mean by that?" Kim asked and took a bite of food. 

Kylie laughed. "You'll find out." She started. "She moves here and decides to try out for the cheer team."

Kim looked up from her dinner. "Good for her."

Kylie felt ill. "Not for me, mother."

Kim stopped chewing. "Why do you say that?"

"Because she's . . .  she's not like the others. She's, well, different."

Kim smiled. "You mean she's got the skills and pep."

Kylie rolled her eyes. "No, mother. She's got something else."

Kim thought for a minute. She saw her daughter roll her eyes. "She is a nice girl. What's your problem with her?" 

Kylie sighed. "She's taking over everything!"

"Like what?" Her mother asked, noticing her daughter's frustration.

"She's got the coach wrapped around her finger and now she's on the cheer team." Kylie complained. My team.

Kim put down her fork. "You don't own the team, Kylie."

Like hell I don't! She seethed inside. Cheerleading was her favorite thing. She'd been captain since eighth grade. 

"It's just not fair, mom."

"Life isn't fair." Kim said and continued eating. "It's just the way it is." 

41

When Friday came around Kylie was at the studio/dojo early. She wanted to test Sammi and see if she'd break in front of her parents.

Revealing Sammi's true self was gonna be sweet payback.

Sammi arrived with a bounce in her step. She was wearing a pair of cheer shoes that she had picked out with her mother. They were sparkly and had a lightning bolt design.

"Sammi, you're early." Kylie said, trying to keep the sneer out of her voice.

"So are you." She noticed. "Your mom is teaching me some cheer stuff today."

Kylie's eyes widened with surprise. "Why? Coach Rockwaller can do that!"

"Well your mom has more time for me. I can really sink my teeth into everything." She winked and walked to the back.

UUUGGHH! Kylie thought and wanted to hit something. 

As Sammi approached the back of the studio, she saw Kim standing there with a curious smile. Kylie trailed behind, her eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"Hi!" Sammi said, trying to keep her voice steady and also saw Kim look past her for a moment. 

Kim smiled warmly at her. "Hi, Sammi. Ready to work hard today?"

Sammi nodded, her stomach doing flips. "Yes, Mrs. Stoppable."

"It's okay to call me Kim." She said. "So, what are we working on today?"

Sammi took a deep breath. "Cheer routines and tumbling." She replied, trying to act nonchalant despite her racing heart. She didn't know if Kylie had said anything to her mother yet about their encounter. 

42

"Great." Kim said. "Take a few minutes to stretch if you need to." 

"Okay." Sammi said and began stretching. 

Kylie turned and left to go get her father. She found him in the office. "Dad can you come with me for a minute?"

Ron took his eyes off the computer screen to look at her. "What's up?"