Dear Little Deaf Boy

Chapter 5 - Bleacher Babes

Chapter 5- Bleacher Babes

The October air nipped at my cheeks as it swept across the football field. I sat wedged between Bee and Nani on the bleachers, the three of us clustered together like always. We'd been inseparable since gymnastics at age seven. Different fonts of the same aesthetic. Bee, sharp and sarcastic, attracted to trouble without ever chasing it. Nani, a hopeless lover girl wrapped in lip gloss and body glitter, boys orbiting her like moths. And me, somewhere in the middle. What bound us together was simple.

Dance. Always dance.

The thought of missing the recital next weekend sat heavy in my stomach. We'd always shared the stage. Always breathed in rhythm together. Now I'd be sidelined, and Carly Aims would be the one at center.

"This sucks," Nani muttered, rolling her eyes. "Now that you're out, we're stuck with Carly. She's probably thrilled."

Carly Aims.
Red-haired, captain of the cheer squad, and my oldest rival. Not nemesis, enemy. We'd been clawing for solos since we were kids, and even when she lost, she made sure to cry loud enough that the teachers noticed. She smiled sweetly in my face, like we were best friends, but we both knew the truth: she hated me as much as I hated her. And now, with me benched, she'd have all the room in the world to claim my spotlight.

"How are my lovely ladies doing?"

I didn't need to turn. Lucas Hart. Typical hot, arrogant football player. His shadow always dragged Zane along, his best friend, Nani's boyfriend, and the human definition of "dark side of the moon."

"Mind if we join you?" Lucas asked.

I swung my leg across the empty space beside me. "Yes, we do mind."

Lucas smirked. "Nani, can't you tell your guard dog to heel? Or does Scooby need a snack?"

"Ha. Ha." I gave him a flat laugh. "Does pretending you're funny make you feel better? Now go warm the bench."

Bee's lips twitched, fighting a smile. Nani giggled into her hand.

"You know what? Just for that, I'm staying." Before I could snap back, Lucas dropped right onto my leg.

"Ugh! Get off, fatass!" I shoved at him, but he wiggled, making a show of it.

"You got nice legs, KP. But I bet under those shoes your feet look worse than Beatrice's nails."

I rolled my eyes at the nickname. Bee finally cut in, deadpan as ever. "Forget you, Lucas."

He grinned, leaning closer. "Come on, I'm serious. Ever notice ballerinas never wear flip-flops? Ugly feet. I'm sure you're a perfect example."

"Lucas, get up. You're gonna make my pants smell like sweat and ass."

"They're sweatpants, darling. Isn't that what they're made for?"

God, his smart mouth.

"Just relax. You're basically getting a lap dance from Lucas Hart. Feel special."

I shoved him harder, and he tumbled off with a laugh.

"Damn, KP. Aren't ballerinas supposed to be graceful? You've been looking a little beefy lately. What are you on, roids?"

He squeezed my arm like he was testing muscle. I swatted him away.

"I'm not in the mood for your ballet jokes," I muttered. He only smirked, sliding into the seat next to me anyway.

No doubt, Lucas was handsome. But not my type.

His eyes flicked across the field. "Hey, there goes that deaf kid. I heard what Finn pulled yesterday. Thought you were gonna hand him his ass, KP."

My gaze followed. Jasper Ralston sat alone, book balanced on his lap, hair falling into his face. Quiet. Untouchable. I dug through my bag and brushed the spine of his notebook. I should've given it back already.

But his eyes weren't on me. They were on Carly.

She stood with her cheer squad, soaking up the attention like a sponge. The squad clapped as she pulled her hair into a ponytail and prepped for her "famous" tumble run. Famous. Please. She sprinted forward, two cartwheels, and a split. Beginner stuff. But the crowd roared like she'd reinvented gravity.

I rolled my eyes. "Seriously? They think she's Gabby Douglas?"

"Don't be jealous, KP," Lucas teased. "At least she went out there and tried. Looked sexy doing it, too. You hate it, but a girl like Carly gets more attention than you. You could walk out there and no one would look twice."

The words stung. Not because they were true, but because they could be. With me out, Carly would eat up the stage. She'd make it hers. She already was. If I didn't remind people who owned it first, I might as well hand her my solos with a bow.

"They'd do more than glance," I shot back.

Lucas tilted his head, grinning. "Prove it."

I stood, tying my hair into a ponytail. "Gladly."

"What are you doing?" Zane finally spoke, his voice flat.

"Showing Carly up," I said.

"Kinsley, sit down," Bee flicked Lucas's ear, not even looking at me. "It's not worth it."

"I don't have to prove anything to him." I looked straight at Carly, still soaking up her cheers. "But I'm not backing down either."

Lucas winked. I scoffed.

"Ciao for now," I told the girls, jogging down the steps. The crowd's attention shifted as my friends started shouting my name, pulling every eye onto the field. Perfect.

If Carly wanted a show, I'd give her one.