Cheerleaders

Accusations

PRESENT

Camila's POV

"Camila! Lauren's here" my mum calls from downstairs. Moments later there's a knock at my door and Lauren comes in.

"Hey are you ready to g-," she trails off when she sees me sitting cross-legged on my bed wearing my running clothes and sneakers.

"Camz, it's 5:30 in the morning and cheer practice starts at 6, there's no way you could've gone for a run," she states in confusion.

"Just a short one," I lie as I pull my cheer clothes out of my cupboard and disappear into my bathroom to quickly change. I glare at my reflection briefly before going back outside.
"Let's go," I say, grabbing my bag and a jumper which used to fit me but now hangs loosely around my frame. We walk down the stairs and out of the door.
"It's freezing," I mumble.
"Did you get a chance to have breakfast?" Lauren asks, ignoring what I said.
"Um, yes?" I say. It isn't a lie, I technically did have water this morning.
"You look awful," she comments.
"What?" I ask self consciously, wrapping my arms around my waist.
"You're pale and tired," she tells me.
"Shut up," I joke, punching her arm playfully.
"Are you nervous about being weighed?" I ask as we near the school.
"No, I didn't even remember that that was today," she replies before looking up at me.
"Are you?" She asks almost worriedly.
"No," I answer quickly. "Come on, we're here," I say, grabbing her hand and dragging her along behind me.
"Hi!" Ally says as we enter the changing room.
"Hey," I say, sitting down next to her.
"God, it's boiling in here, take off your jumper," Mani says, appearing next to me.
"Where's Dinah, didn't you guys come together?" I ask, looking around and avoiding the question.
"No, she's feeling unwell," Mani replies.

"C'mon, we'll be late," Ally says, standing up. "And Mila, no jumpers in practice so get a move on," she says harshly. I roll my eyes and reluctantly pull my jumper off, immediately catching sight of myself in the mirror.
"Mila, your cheerleading outfit fit you perfectly when you got it literally a month and a half ago, how is it already so stretched?" Mani asks, pinching the loose fabric hanging around my arms.
"It grew in the wash," I say defensively.

"Camz, things don't grow in the wash," Lauren scoffs.
"We're late, remember?" I say, changing the topic.
All through practice I felt light headed and dizzy. By the time practice is over I can barely stay standing.
"Camz? Are you even listening to me?" Lauren asks from next to me. I grab her arm to steady myself as a wave of dizziness hits me.
"Camila," she says, sounding scared.
"Sorry, I tripped," I mumble before walking to the scale seeing as it's my turn. The sooner I can get out of here, the better.
"Camila, are you okay?" David asks. I nod despite the fact that my vision is blurry. I step on to the square-shaped tile which haunts me in my nightmares.
"Camila, can you get off and step back on?" David asks in a concerned tone. I nod and do as I'm told.
"What's wrong?" I hear Lauren behind me.
"Lauren, go back to your place in the line," David says in a tone which nobody, not even Lauren, would dare to mess with.
"Ally, can you come here for a minute?" he calls to Ally.
"Why?" I ask, feeling panic rising in my chest. I'm too fat to be a cheerleader, I shouldn't be here.

"Ally, look at this number compared to the one we recorded six weeks ago," he tells her. I blink hard to make my vision clearer.
"Fuck," I hear her whispering to herself.
"Camila, you weighed 54 kilos six weeks ago," David states as if it's news to me.
"Yes, I know," I mutter in an irritated manner.
"Mila, this isn't healthy," Ally says as I step off of the scale.
"You've lost fifteen kilos in six weeks, how is that even humanly possible? Not to mention the fact that 39 kilos isn't nearly healthy," Ally rambles.
"Your BMI has dropped 6 numbers!" David continues.
"So?" I ask.
"Camila, if you don't get your BMI up by at least 3 numbers then you will not be able to be a cheerleader anymore, do you understand?" David shouts, loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Yes," I say in barely a whisper before walking to the changing rooms as fast as my legs will carry me. I sink down on the floor and burst into tears, pulling my knees towards my chest. I'm so pathetic.
"Camila?" I hear a raspy voice calling my name urgently. I continue crying as Lauren runs in and bends down in front of me.
"Baby, are you okay?" she asks, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Don't touch me," I sob, shaking her hand off of me.