Contrary Hearts

Chapter 17: Grayson's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Ava:

Thanksgiving for cheerleaders is a little different- while everyone else enjoys the game or the parade, we're stuck here freezing our (nonexistent) balls off. The tights they allow us to wear beneath our skirts do little to ward off the wicked winds whipping around us like an icy taunt. Each gust bites at my legs, sending shivers up my spine, as I try to focus on the task at hand.

To make matters worse, Riley is still on a personal mission to make me miserable. Her snickers echo around me as she whispers to her pack of hyenas, their laughter ringing in my ears like an unwelcome alarm. Grow up, bitch, I think, the words simmering just beneath the surface.

It's nine a.m., an hour before the game starts. The football team is warming up on the field, their bodies moving in unison, and I can't help but catch glimpses of the cheerleaders near the sidelines, full of energy. My heart lifts when I spot Lexi sitting at the bottom of the bleachers, her eyes bright with encouragement. I grin, waving a pom-pom in her direction, then do a playful spin, shaking my ass a little for effect. When I turn back, she's laughing, shaking her head disapprovingly, the kind of look that says 'you're ridiculous, but I love you for it.'

Riley groans beside me, her disdain palpable. "I thought I wouldn't have to see two of the ugliest people I know today," she whines dramatically, flicking her eyes between Lexi and me like we're the source of her misery.

I laugh, rolling my eyes. "Did your vision blur when you looked in the mirror?" I shoot back, tossing my hair over my shoulder with a flourish before moving farther away from her.

Coach calls us forward as the game finally starts, her voice cutting through the chilly air, commanding attention as she tells us to start with a pyramid. The weight of anticipation hangs heavy around us, and I can feel my heart racing- this is one of my first games back since my suspension. As the flyer, all eyes will be on me, and the pressure is a familiar, unsettling thrill.

I take a deep breath, the cold air filling my lungs, and for a moment, I try to push thoughts of Milo out of my mind. Just yesterday, he had asked me out on a date, and the flutter of excitement from that moment still lingers. I can't believe he actually accepted my apology, after everything. And not only that, he actually wants to give it a try. We'll see how long that actually lasts, once he gets to know the real me. My mind races as I try to shake off the thoughts, but they cling stubbornly, distracting me as I stretch and practice my chants.

As we stack ourselves for the pyramid, I climb higher, the ground receding beneath me, and suddenly the world shifts. The cold wind rushes past me, but it's a different kind of chill- the adrenaline surging through my veins is warm, almost electric. I glance out at the crowd, feeling the rush of cheers and the weight of expectation, but my eyes instinctively search for Milo. It's silly of me to think he'd show up, to surprise me. But I can't help the way my eyes scan the sea of people.

As I reach the top of the pyramid, I can hear Lexi's cheers mingling with the crowd's excitement, and for a moment, I feel invincible. I strike a pose, arms raised, letting the thrill of the game wash over me. It's a perfect moment- until Riley's voice cuts through the air, yanking me back to reality.

"Don't fall, Ava!" Riley's voice cuts through the crisp morning air, sharp and mocking, a reminder of her constant need to tear me down. I can feel the weight of the crowd's attention, their eyes on me, and in the background, Riley's friends stifle their laughter, each sound prickling my nerves.

But today, it doesn't get to me. My focus hardens, narrowing in on the moment. Riley's opinion, her ugly whispers- it all fades away. I'm here to cheer, to prove myself, not to crumble under the weight of this ugly, jealous cunt-bag.