A Tale Of Euphony

4

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden light over the school courtyard as I leaned against a wall with a notepad in hand. With the intramurals only a few days away, nerves coursed through me like electric currents. I felt the weight of my responsibilities as the one tasked with creating cheers and yells for the entire student council. It wasn’t just the cheers I was anxious about; it was the thought of being put on display in front of the whole school, under the scorching sun, with everyone watching.

Last month, when the top ten leaders were announced, I was honored to be included but equally petrified. To think that my fellow students would look to me for spirit and enthusiasm was thrilling yet terrifying.

“Thalia, are you ready for intramurals?” Lyra, my best friend, called out as she joined me, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“I guess so,” I murmured, glancing down at my notepad filled with hastily scribbled phrases. “I just hope everyone likes the cheers.”

“They will! You’ve put in so much work, and we’re all behind you,” she assured, giving me a quick squeeze on my shoulder. Her encouragement warmed my heart, but I still couldn’t shake the feeling of anxiety gripping my stomach.

The next day, our teacher, Ms. Rivers, gathered us all in the auditorium to present the cheers I’d crafted. After a week of late nights and revisions, I thought I had done my best, and thankfully, Ms. Rivers seemed to agree. As I stood in front of my fellow council members, uncertainty clawed at me.

“Let’s start with the first section!” I called out, trying to inject enthusiasm into my own voice. I glanced around, noticing a few faint nods. Then I caught sight of Orion.

Orion had always been a source of admiration for me. He radiated confidence and charm, and with his boyish smile, it was as if he exuded light. Today, though, I saw him watching me from the back, a slight smile playing on his lips.

As we worked through each cheer, my confidence grew a little. The chants echoed off the walls, and before long, the energy in the room oscillated between nervousness and sheer excitement. I felt a rush of exhilaration washed over me every time they repeated my words. When I finished, I looked at Lyra and saw her beaming back at me.

“The spirit of our school is in those cheers, Thalia!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together excitedly.

Just as I was reveling in that moment, my focus shifted abruptly when I heard whispering from a group of girls in the corner. They stood near the exit, their voices dripping with disdain as they smirked at each other.

“Can you believe she thinks she can lead us?” one sneered, flicking her hair back with exaggerated flair.

I felt my heart drop. In that moment, the room felt suffocating. I wanted to confront them, call them out for being so cruel, but instead, I took a deep breath and pushed through the moment. They didn’t know the hours I had poured into those cheers, the late nights and the sweat.

My heart still racing, I continued to guide the remaining groups through the cheers. By the time I reached our own section, disappointment burned at my chest.

“Okay, everyone! Let’s bring it in and really try to pump ourselves up!” I said, doing my best to inject positive energy into the room. But as I scanned my classmates' faces, I noticed some of them seemed distracted, unconvinced.

As I went through the cheers again, I spotted Orion sitting on the side, his eyes fixated on me. I couldn’t decipher what was dancing behind his gaze, was it amusement or encouragement? But the way he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, emboldened me. Wasn't that energy what I needed to cultivate?