Battling Hearts and High Scores: A Teenage RomCom

Battling Permission Slips and Changing Polls

Monday rolls around, and everyone gathers for a midday school assembly in the auditorium. The energy is always different on assembly days, like a mix of boredom and curiosity. I walk in with a group of my fellow cheerleaders, our footsteps in sync on the glossy floor as we glide toward the front of the auditorium. It's a routine we've perfected: heads held high, smiles plastered on our faces, as if we're not secretly dreading sitting through yet another lecture from Principal Powell. We head straight for the front middle row of seats, where we always sit. It's all part of the image, the expectations. As we pass by, I catch sight of Sage and his two friends, still slumped over in their seats, heads bent low, playing video games on their phones like they're too engaged to care about the assembly. I throw a quick glare their way. I deeply would want to join them, to be honest. Who wouldn't rather be battling out on Steel Reckoning III than listening to Powell's droning voice? But instead, I keep walking, falling in line with my clique, staying the course. Like always...

The auditorium is buzzing with whispers—most of them about Vivian's tumble on Friday and how Havenview managed to pull off a win against Sunset Heights despite the mishap. People are gossiping about it like it's the most exciting thing that's happened in years.

Truthfully, it was Finn who really sealed the deal for the win, pushing himself harder than ever on the court. Of course, everyone knows about the drama with Anya running out of the gym mid-game. She didn't return until the final buzzer, when she picked up Finn and drove off without even speaking to anyone. The rumors about what's happening between them are already swirling, but no one has the full story yet. Not even me.

All right, everyone, come on in and settle down," Principal Powell's voice crackles over the microphone, calling for attention. Slowly, students trickle into the rows, taking their seats with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Everyone's curious, though, about what this meeting could be about. Powell usually keeps these assemblies to a minimum unless something big is happening. I catch sight of Finn near the front row, surrounded by a bunch of other basketball players. Typical.

"We have some important news to share today—both bad and good," Principal Powell continues, his voice a little too chipper for what's supposed to be serious news.

"Start with the bad! We don't have all day, old man! Neither do you!" Finn shouts from the front, lifting his hand high like he's in a classroom. The auditorium bursts into laughter, Finn's loudest of all. He soaks it in, basking in the attention.

Principal Powell's expression falters for a second before he quickly recovers, forcing a smile. "Congratulations, Hornets—and most importantly, Finn—for winning the game on Friday! You've put our school on the map, and now we're in the state semifinals! Can we give the basketball team a round of applause?"

The response is immediate. The auditorium erupts into cheers, clapping and whistling as students call out to the basketball team. The noise is deafening. I glance over at Finn, who's clearly loving every second of it, milking the moment as he fist-bumps his teammates.

"And let's also thank our cheerleaders for their amazing halftime performance!" Principal Powell adds, clapping a little too enthusiastically.

He definitely didn't show up to the game—or see the video of our, uh, less-than-stellar performance.

"I don't think that's what actually happened," some random guy yells from the back, and a ripple of snickers spreads through the audience. The loudest one? Sage, sitting just a row across from us.

I lean over Izzy and whisper to Viv, "Don't listen to them."

Viv is wearing black biker shorts and a wrap around her injured knee. She gives me a small, reluctant smile in return.