Michelle Ryker

Chapter Seven: Party Planning

Monday morning practice was cancelled. Celeste said we all deserved a break after our successful weekend. Because of this I didn't get to school until just before the warning bell. I wasn't the only one who came later than normal because Tatiana reached for the handle of the front door the same time I did.

"Hey there, Michelle," she said with a yawn.

"Morning," I said pulling the door open and motioning her through. "Late night?"

She nodded as we headed to first period. "My family is very cheer centered. I have three older sisters who all went to Ravenwood and were on the varsity Squad who are now on the Squad at California U so I have a lot to live up to. My mom was captain of her high school Squad out in Arizona which makes my family even more cheer crazy. Whenever one of us has a good competition the family stays up late partying. I only got to sleep about an hour or so before I had to get up to get ready for school because they just wouldn't shut up."

"That sucks," I said thinking about how I'd had just about as much sleep as she'd had but because of a little assignment Stone had sent me on overnight. I'd barely seen my parents that weekend, they'd been so busy with work.

"You get used to it. My oldest sister is five years older than me and she's been competing since she was four so I've literally been doing it my whole life."

I shrugged as we slid into our seats. "It still sucks. I'd hate being a little kid and not being allowed to sleep."

"I guess I never thought about it that way," she said as the last bell rang. "I've always thought of it as more of a family thing. You know, some families go camping while mine is overly obsessed with cheer."

I laughed which earned me the evil eye from Ms. Dabney. "I guess that works, too."

Tatiana leaned closer to me and lowered her voice. "Plus it got me out of school a lot when I was younger. All I had to do was complain I was too tired to go and I'd get to sleep."

"You're a genius," I whispered back. "I wish I'd had that kind of excuse when I didn't want to go to school."

Ms. Dabney glared at us again so we shut up and started paying attention to the lesson.

I was pushing the food around my plate at lunch when Celeste caught my attention.

"You know, you're the only one on the Squad who hasn't thrown a party, Michelle."

My eyes widened and I looked at her to see if she was serious. "Yeah but I only just transferred in. Plus we've been busy getting ready for the competition."

Celeste waved away my words. "Yes but all that's over now. Why don't you throw a party this weekend? That way we can all see your place and celebrate? You did just join the Squad. And you've officially won your first cheer competition ever."

"I don't know if we could actually do it at my place," I said thinking about how Matthews would freak if he found out about it. Not to mention how I'd go about convincing my parents to let me throw a party for people I'd just met.

She sighed. "Aaron, convince your girlfriend to throw a party this weekend."

I looked over my shoulder to see Aaron standing behind me. "We're not dating."

Celeste shrugged. "I still don't believe you but whatever."

Aaron placed a hand on my shoulder. "Give it up, Michelle. Celeste isn't going to believe you no matter how many times you say it."

"Nope," she said happily. "Now stop changing the subject. Party. This weekend."

"I don't know if that's actually the best idea," Aaron said stealing a fry off my plate. "You guys wouldn't really like her place too much."