Cheerleader

Chapter 2

All through practice I don't think I've ever practiced so hard in my life. I was trying to forget that Alex was near me practicing in his loose basketball shorts and tight white tank top. By the time practice was over, I was drenched in sweat and James continued to hassle me on our way to the locker room to shower and change into our clothes before heading home.

I did manage to forget my obsession on Alex during practice some but let me tell you what, it was damn hard. Coach was happy with how hard I was giving it my all and she told me before James and I headed to the locker rooms that she wanted to see that kind of dedication at every practice and game from me. Not a problem as long as Alex was on the field behind me.

Showering quickly I change before the football players enter the locker room but James was being extra slow today it seems just to annoy me. Glaring at him as he dressed he smirks as Alex and the rest of the football players enter to shower themselves. Some of the males glare at me as they enter the showers causing me to glare at James more.

"Hurry up," I hiss in a whisper at him; smirking he finally takes pity upon me and finishes quickly so we can leave.

Waiting in the parking lot for mama to pick me and James up, we always give him a ride home after practices since James lives three houses down from us, there is no point in James' mom in picking him up. Mama arrives and James and I climb in and I instantly notice that Charlie is in his booster seat in the van.

"Hey Charlie, how was school today?" I ask him as I buckle myself in.

Charlie bounces in his seat a little grinning showing off his dimples at me. "Fun, I played with Tommy and Riley today, Quinny!" he says with so much excitement that I can't help but grin back at him.

"Quinny?" Charlie asks suddenly his voice becoming serious.

Turning back to my little brother I answer him. "What's up Charlie-Poo?"

He frowns at my nickname for him; he hates it but doesn't say anything about it. "Can you help me with my homework tonight, please?" Charlie hates his homework he says it isn't fun. Nodding at him I agree to help him before dinner and his grin comes back.

"Thank you!" he says happily before he starts talking to James, who he absolutely adores as James adores him. James always wanted siblings but his parents never wanted any more after they had him. James gets along awesome with all of my siblings and all of them love him in return. Cara has a slight crush on James but she knows that nothing will ever come of it because James looks at her like a sibling not a love interest.

Dropping James off we head home and I help Charlie out of the van before grabbing my bags before heading inside. Charlie wants to instantly start his homework when we walked into the house and that's what we did. His homework was finding all the pictures on the page that started with the letter 'A' to color them with a purple crayon. After helping him I start my homework which I manage to finish just before dinner was completed so Charlie and I set the table.

"How was school today?" mom asks us while we eat. Everyone answers with how their day went, Charlie the most animated about his day.

When I finally crawl into bed to sleep I fall asleep instantly. Three hours later I wake up with screams ripping from my throat, sweat drenching and coursing down my body. I had another nightmare about my biological parent's death, I was in the car with them when they died. We were on our way back from a doctor's appointment for me when the incident happened. I had broken my leg and wrist along with cuts and bruises.

Charlie rushes into my bedroom like he has every time since he was two and a half years old. He climbs into my bed with me, wrapping his arms around my neck burring his head into my neck. I wrap my arms around his little body trying to calm my breathing as I snuggle with my little brother. He's always been a comfort to me. Mama arrives in my bedroom a minute later with a weak smile on her face as she watches Charlie and I. Entering my room she gently sits on the edge of my bed before wiping my sweaty hair out of my face.

"Nightmare again, baby?" she asks in a quiet whisper. I nod at her as my breath settles. "Did you remember to take your medication before going to bed?"

Shit I knew I was forgetting something before I came to bed. "No, I forgot. I'm sorry, mama," I whisper back to her as Charlie tightens my hold on my neck.

Mama nods her head; she smiles weakly at me again before she tries to gently pry Charlie off my neck. Charlie whimpers tightening his arms and legs around me.

"Mama it's alright if he wants to sleep in my room tonight, if you don't mind," I whisper while rubbing Charlie's back. Mama nods before kissing both of us on our heads. Leaving my room mama shuts the light off as I settle Charlie in my hold as he settles himself with his head on my chest and an arm around my stomach as we lay back on my bed.

"Good night, Charlie," I whisper into his hair.

Charlie tightens his hold around my middle as he mumbles into my clothed chest, "Night Quinny." Within seconds he's asleep as am I. The next morning when my alarm sounds, I'm disoriented as to why I'm extremely warm before I remember my nightmare and Charlie's in my room.

Groaning slightly I wake Charlie up so he and I could dress for school. He grumbles slightly to himself before he sits up while wiping the sleep from his eyes.

"Morning, Charlie," I say quietly to him before kissing his forehead. "Thanks for keeping me safe last night," I whisper in his hair causing him to giggle. "Why don't you go and dress for school, okay," I suggest to him as he hugs me around my neck. Charlie nods as I set him on his feet and he runs out of my room to his.

Chuckling to myself I shower and do my morning routine before making sure my sisters are up and dressed before checking on Charlie. After making sure everyone is up and dressed the four of us head downstairs to have breakfast with our mom's.

Breakfast was awkward for me since my moms and my sisters were giving me looks filled with pity due to my nightmare last night. Charlie is the only one acting normal around me since he doesn't understand why or what my nightmares are he just knows that I have them.

"Quinny, I come to your cheer game?" Charlie asks me before taking a bite of his food.

Smiling at my little brother, I glance at mama and mom before I answer him. They nod that he's coming to the home game Friday night. "You know you are, I have to have my biggest fan at my home game." This causes him to giggle as he finished his breakfast. Mama drops all of us at our schools promising to pick us up after school or practice.

The school day drags since I'm exhausted from last night. During art class I can't even focus, I have my head in my hand trying to listen to the movie the teacher is showing about a particular art technic and design but it's lulling me to sleep. I don't even realize that I've fallen asleep until James gently nudges my leg.

"What's up with you today, Q, you're like a damn zombie?" James whispers to me with concern lacing his voice.

Glancing at him as I shift in my seat, I shrug as I whisper back, "I'm just tired that's all, didn't sleep very well last night."

James gives me a questioning look before his eyes light up in understanding. "Nightmare again?" he asks quietly. I nod before we turn our attention back to the boring ass movie. After school was done James and I head to practice. I amped up my performance to make sure I stay awake and I'm not performing sluggishly. All through the school day and practice I feel eyes on me but every time I look around to see who might be staring at me, I don't notice anyone. I shrug it off that I'm tired and imagining things.

I was never more thankful when practice ended and mama picked James and I up. Once home I help Charlie with his homework since he won't let anyone else help him. After dinner I tell everyone that I'm going to bed since I'm tired, making sure I take my medicine before bed tonight. I need sleep and I don't want that nightmare again.