The Cheerleader •Daryl Dixon AU•

Thirty-Five

"Are we practising later? The big game is next week so I was just wondering" Lori asked as she watched Olivia sit in a small cart and slowly spin herself round and round. Lori had joined Olivia at the launderette and was waiting for her and Daryl's clothes to finish drying so they could head to the mall before it closed.

"I guess" Olivia replied in a daydream. Lori slapped her hands on the cart stopping Olivia spinning further she sighed pulling a face at her friend "yes, we can practice" Olivia reluctantly replied "This routine is going to be hard enough without Andrea without you looking like you dont wanna be there" Lori sounded fed up, Olivia didnt want to be there  but she didnt want to upset her friend. "Only if we can go to The Point after?" she threatened, not that Lori needed persuading, The Point was her only chance to make out with Rick, their parents did not like them doing that in the house and never let them upstairs alone.

Lori helped Olivia place her and Daryl's neatly folded clothes into her big laundry bag before putting in in the trunk of Lori's new car. She had recently passed her test and her brother was loaning her his car until Lori had enough money to purchase her own. It was nowhere near as luxorious as Olivia's Porsche but it was better than no car and the pair of them struggling with the heavy laundry to the mall.

"I had this idea for our cheer" Lori spoke showing Olivia a youtube video on her phone as they strolled the mall, they knew the mall so well they didnt need to look up to where they were going. Olivia thought the routine was a really good idea and she knew her team were more than capable of achieving it. "Listen, Lori" she began as Lori tucked her phone into her pocket, she looked downtrodden and Olivia didnt know why "Why dont you organise this routine and go on the top of the pyramid?" she suggested and Lori's eyes widened, she must of thought Olivia would knock back her idea. Lori looked skeptical "No Liv, I cant, there are rules, meetings, the others need to agree and" She replied, rambling and Olivia laughed and shook her head "screw the rules, me and you can trade places, the girls will have to put up or shut up" Olivia spoke firmly. Lori had a point, since Olivia took over the role of 'head cheerleader' all the members of the squad had to have their place on the team, all uniform choices were decided by Olivia and all routine decisions were decided by Olivia, no exceptions. Olivia curled her lip when she thought of how it used to be, She was ready now to pass on the baton to someone who she knew would do well, someone who wanted it and someone who had earned it. And that was Lori.

Lori still looked unconvinced "Come on, the whole school know im with Daryl and not the Jock anymore, they know I havent been driving my Porsche and they most certainly know I dont throw my cheerleader weight around anymore. 'bout time someone else did" Olivia smiled bringing Lori on side, "plus Rick is basically top Jock now Shane has been benched" they both gave eachother a weary smile, it was a waste for Shane to be benched like that but if Coach thought he was putting his all in he would of had little choice.

At practice, the girls welcomed Lori giving them some direction, no one whined as to why Lori was dictating and not Olivia, no one quizzed why Olivia had given up her position and no one looked disappointed Lori was now in charge. Eventhough in the school lavatories there was some pretty nasty graffiti about the cheerleaders it was all lies, they were really were a great bunch of supportive girls.

Lori group messaged the guys to meet them at The Point and her and Olivia made their way there after freshening up.

As usual Olivia's heart skipped as she gaazed upon Daryl, he was in his cargo pants and tee an outfit of his she loved. Lori parked up next to his bike and Rick's truck and the pair walked down to where the guys were. T was playing some music on his speaker and Daryl was handing Rick a cigarette, he must of really wanted a smoke as he rarely lit one up.

"I love you in that uniform" Daryl whispered teasingly as Olivia sat beside him, his had running up her thigh up past her skirt hem line making her giggle. "I wont need it on soon" she replied placing a kiss on her cheek, he pulled a 'really' face with his blue eyes widened and she playfully smacked his hand "I meant I spoke to Lori and she is going to take over" she smiled, Daryl ran his fingers across the small of her back as she spoke "How did she take it?" he asked showing concern. "well, she just thinks we are changing positions, I cant tell her I dont want to do it at all and I cant tell her I wont be joining her at the same college" she sighed showing defeat, her and Daryl looked over to Lori who was giggling away at one of T's jokes while Rick lovingly stroked her hair. "She'll understand" Daryl spoke offering her support "I dont know" Olivia spoke dry mouthed still looking over at Lori, sipping the beer Daryl had she spoke again "I told her at the start of the year we would attend Alexandria College and now im doing a beauty course instead, Andrea wont be going anywhere, Rick is going straight into The Police Academy and T is going travelling, I dont think she can handle being on her own" Daryl looked open mouthed at her "Still are head of the girls at heart arnt ya?" he teased, pulling a face at him she knew what she meant by that and so did he "I just mean its all changing and she has no clue about some aspects" she explained further.

Olivia lit a cigarette and blew the smoke away as her and Daryl walked over to join the group by the lake, the group turned when they could hear someone calling out to them. they looked to eachother perhaps they had misheard something but there was their names being called again.

"Shane?" Rick asked as he watched him walk down looking nervous and somewhat awkward towards the group. Olivia and Lori both looked to one another "Great" they spat sarcastically in unison.