Cheerlebrity Confessions

Chapter 7

I'm leaving the Starbucks with my vanilla bean latte when Matt Smith walks in the door.

"Matt!  What are you doing here?"

"Uh, getting coffee?" he says with an adorable grin.

"I am so glad I ran into you."

"What's going on?"

I sigh.  "I'm just having a really stupid day."

"You wanna talk about it?  We could go to the park."

I nod and wait while he goes to pick up some coffee.  The barista smiles and laughs when he places his order, flipping her hair to the side.  I smile ruefully.  Matt seems to have that effect on all the girls. 

After Matt gets his coffee, we climb into his pickup truck and drive to the park at the edge of town.  I head naturally for the bench at one end pond, my favorite spot among the gardens and trails.

"So what's up?" Matt asks, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Lots of things.  I thought I was gonna be captain of my high school cheer team this year, but coach gave it to another girl.  And she gave Alison center point flyer.  Even though I've been on the team for three years."  I sigh.  "It's not just that.  I'm worried about how our stunt wasn't working out at practice last week.  What'll coach think?"

"Whoa, whoa, slow down," Matt says.  "Okay, so first of all, your high school coach must be crazy not to let you be team captain, or center.  If you're the best on the Cheetahs, you must be the best at your school."

"You really think I'm the best?"

"Of course, James," he says.  "You're amazing in the air.  Don't worry about that stunt, okay?  Everyone struggles at first with new bases.  They'll get the hang of it."

"Thanks, Matt.  You're such a good friend."

Before I think about what I'm doing, I lay my head on his shoulder.  Instead of moving away, he puts his arm around my waist.  My heart starts pounding with excitement and fear.  What are we doing?  He has a girlfriend.  But we've always gotten along so perfectly...

I hear a familiar laugh behind me.  I whip around and see Peyton and Alison.  They're laughing and walking down the path holding green veggie shakes from the Juice Bar.  Peyton told me she had to help out her mom today, and she's actually doing this?  Hanging out with Alison--and lying to me?

"Oh my god," I say.

"What?" Matt says.  He turns around and spots them.  "Oh..." he says.

By the look on his face, I can tell what he's thinking.  He's wondering whether they saw us together-- and in fact, Alison is staring right at us.