Falling For You

Chapter 2: Moving Forward

Saturday morning dawned, and I rolled out of bed feeling groggy but determined. It had been a rough week. Seeing Aaron flaunting his new relationship with Roxanne was more than I could stomach. Every hallway seemed to echo with their laughter, and I was still the talk of the school. I could feel the judgmental stares, whispers, and even the occasional pity-filled glances from some of my classmates. Yet, here I was, trying to keep it all together.

I pulled on my workout clothes and headed downstairs. My mom was already up, humming as she prepared breakfast. She was making pancakes, Aiden’s favorite. My little brother, who was eight, was excitedly chatting about his latest video game adventures, not a care in the world. I envied him for that. He didn’t have to deal with high school drama.

“Good morning, sweetie,” Mom greeted me with a smile as I entered the kitchen.

“Morning, Mom,” I muttered, trying to sound upbeat.

“Are you heading to the gym today?” she asked, handing me a plate of pancakes.

“Yeah, I have the cheerleading tryouts next week,” I said, taking a bite. “I want to make sure I’m in shape.”

Mom’s smile brightened. “You’re going to do great. I’m so proud of you for sticking with it.”

Cheerleading had always been a dream of mine. Ever since I watched my older cousin perform at a football tournament when I was little, I had been captivated by the energy, the athleticism, and the team spirit. My cousin had been a star cheerleader in high school, and I had looked up to her. I used to practice her routines in the backyard when I was younger, pretending I was part of the squad.

The tryouts were finally here, and while I knew it was going to be tough, I wasn’t about to back down, especially not after everything that had happened. This was my chance to focus on something positive and get away from all the gossip and drama. Roxanne might have stolen Aaron, but she couldn’t take this away from me.

“I’ll drive you,” Mom offered, as she handed a glass of orange juice to Aiden.

“It’s okay, Mom,” I said. “I’m going to walk today, clear my head.”

Mom gave me a sympathetic look. She knew things hadn’t been easy for me lately, but she didn’t push. I appreciated that.

After breakfast, I spent the rest of the morning with Aiden. He was always such a ball of energy, bouncing from one topic to another. Today, he wanted to show me his latest trick on his skateboard. So, we went out to the driveway, where he zipped around, trying to impress me.

“Watch this!” he said, speeding toward the curb. He jumped the board and landed smoothly.

“Nice one!” I cheered. “You’re getting really good at that.”

He grinned at me, his missing front tooth making him look even more adorable. “I’m gonna be a pro skater one day, you’ll see.”

“I don’t doubt it,” I said with a smile. His optimism and determination reminded me of how I used to feel about cheerleading before everything became so complicated.

Later that afternoon, I headed to the gym for a workout. I needed to stay in top shape for the cheerleading tryouts. I wasn’t too worried about Roxanne being there since the senior cheerleaders wouldn’t be involved in the selection process. It was just me, my passion, and a desire to prove something—to myself, mostly.

I plugged in my earbuds, blasting my favorite playlist, and got to work. I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins as I hit the treadmill. My mind wandered back to the day I first watched my cousin perform. I remembered the way she’d flipped, the precision in her movements, the strength and grace she’d displayed. I wanted that for myself, to be part of something bigger, something that wasn’t wrapped up in high school drama.