Falling For You

Chapter 3: Cheerleading Tryouts

It was another ordinary morning at school, except today, a new buzz filled the halls. The second I walked through the doors, I could sense the excitement in the air. Whispers traveled like wildfire, bouncing from one group of students to another. Something was up, and I had a feeling I knew exactly what.

I pulled out my phone while heading toward my locker, scanning through Instagram, and there it was—Roxanne’s latest post. She had tagged Aaron in a story last night, showcasing a glistening necklace with the caption, “Look what Aaron got me!” The story had been posted only hours before, and already it had set the entire school in a frenzy. It was like a storm had hit, and everyone was talking about it. Aaron and Roxanne had officially become the school’s “It” couple.

Everywhere I turned, people were staring down at their phones, swiping through Roxanne’s Instagram, double-tapping to like the post, and some even commenting about how perfect they were together. “Such a cute couple,” someone behind me said. “They’re, like, meant to be,” another girl added. It felt like daggers being thrown my way, though I tried my best to block them out.

I kept walking, pretending not to notice the constant whispers, the occasional sideways glances, and the students whose eyes flitted between their phones and me. To them, I had become yesterday’s news—just the girl Aaron had ditched for Roxanne, who now stood like a queen on her pedestal, basking in all the attention. My stomach tightened, but I forced myself to keep my head high, determined not to let them see how much it hurt.

As I made my way to class, Roxanne was already seated at her usual spot, her arm draped lazily across Aaron’s shoulders as she giggled loudly with her group of friends. The moment I walked by, she made a point to flip her hair and adjust her shirt, revealing the sparkling necklace that Aaron had given her last night. It shimmered under the fluorescent lights, catching everyone’s eye, including mine.

“Oh, hey, Bianca!” Roxanne’s voice cut through the chatter like nails on a chalkboard. “Did you see this necklace? Aaron bought it for me. Isn’t it just the sweetest thing?” she said, her lips curling into a smug grin.

I glanced at the necklace briefly, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. “Yeah, it’s nice,” I replied with as much indifference as I could muster. I wasn’t about to let her get the satisfaction of knowing she’d gotten to me.

But that didn’t stop her. “Isn’t it? Aaron’s so thoughtful. I mean, it’s not every guy who would spoil his girlfriend like this,” she continued, her voice dripping with fake sincerity.

I could feel her eyes boring into me, waiting for some kind of reaction, some sign that I was jealous or hurt. But I refused to give her what she wanted. Instead, I simply shrugged and walked away, pretending that her words didn’t faze me in the slightest.

But deep down, they did. I wasn’t jealous of the necklace or even Aaron anymore. What hurt the most was the way Roxanne constantly went out of her way to remind me that I had been replaced. I knew that my indifference had triggered her because she thrived on drama and chaos. And when she didn’t get the reaction she wanted, she became desperate to push harder. But I wasn’t going to crumble—not this time.

The day dragged on, and I did my best to stay focused. At least there was one thing I could look forward to—my cheerleading tryout. Jenna and I walked to the gym after school, my heart pounding in my chest as I clutched my bag tightly. I’d been practicing nonstop, spending hours at the gym and doing home workouts to make sure I was in the best shape possible. Today wasn’t just any day—it was the day I’d been waiting for, my chance to finally make the cheerleading team.

“You’ve got this,” Jenna said, giving me a reassuring smile. “You’ve been working so hard for this. Just go in there and show them what you’re made of.”

I nodded, trying to calm the nerves that buzzed under my skin. The good thing was that Roxanne wasn’t on the cheerleading team’s jury. That, at least, was one less thing to worry about. The seniors judging the tryouts had no reason to hate me, so it all came down to my performance.

As I walked onto the gym floor, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment. Focus. You’ve been dreaming of this for years. You’re ready.

The tryouts began, and one by one, we were asked to demonstrate our skills—jumps, stunts, tumbles, and of course, our energy. I could feel the adrenaline rushing through me as I executed each move, making sure to smile brightly and give it my all. I could hear Jenna cheering me on from the sidelines, her voice cutting through the noise of the gym. It was the boost of confidence I needed.

By the time the tryouts ended, my body was aching, but I felt good. I had given it my best shot, and now all I could do was wait for the results. Jenna threw her arms around me as soon as I walked off the floor, a huge smile plastered on her face.

“You were amazing!” she squealed. “I know you made it. There’s no way they’re not going to pick you!”

I laughed, feeling the weight lift off my shoulders. “Thanks, Jenna. I really hope so. I’ll find out tomorrow.”

“Well, in the meantime, we need to celebrate,” Jenna said, her eyes lighting up. “How about we go shopping? I know the perfect place to get you a cute outfit for when they announce the results.”

I hesitated for a moment, thinking about how much I still needed to practice. But then again, maybe a little break would be good for me. “Okay,” I said, smiling. “Let’s do it.”

We spent the next few hours at the mall, trying on different outfits and laughing at some of the ridiculous things we found. For a brief moment, I forgot all about Aaron, Roxanne, and everything else that had been weighing me down. It was just me and Jenna, having fun like we always did.

By the time we were done, I had found the perfect outfit—a simple but stylish top and a pair of jeans that made me feel confident. I couldn’t wait to wear it the next day when the cheerleading results were announced.

As Jenna dropped me off at home, I couldn’t stop smiling. Today had been a good day, and for the first time in a while, I felt like things were starting to look up. I was just about to walk inside when I heard voices coming from the living room. My parents were arguing.

“You’re never home anymore,” my mom’s voice said, frustration lacing her words. “Aiden misses you, and so do I. You’re always at the hospital, and it’s like we don’t even exist anymore.”

“I know, I know,” my dad replied, his tone softening. “But it’s my job. I’m trying to provide for this family.”

I stood frozen by the door, not wanting to eavesdrop but unable to move. It wasn’t often that my parents fought, but when they did, it always made my heart race.

“I just want us to spend more time together, as a family,” my mom said, her voice quivering slightly.

“I’m sorry,” my dad said, and I could hear him moving closer to her. “I’ll try to be home more often. I love you, and I don’t want you to feel like you’re alone in this.”

There was a long pause before my mom finally spoke again. “Okay. I just… I don’t want us to drift apart.”

I took a deep breath and stepped back from the door, giving them their privacy. It was comforting to know that they had worked things out, but a part of me still felt uneasy. Family was everything, and I hoped that things would get better between them.

As I finally walked into the house, I put on a smile, determined not to let the argument get to me. I had a big day tomorrow, and nothing—not Aaron, Roxanne, or even a small family fight—was going to bring me down.