Pandora's Box: Maenads (Book 2)

School Spirit

All eyes are on her, and she can feel every single one of them.

"Let me tell you how this works." begins Sarah, "We're only looking for the best of the best. This team is doing some restructuring and we need people who are up to the task. Our new way of doing things will require you to eat, sleep and breathe this team. It's not going to be a part time thing that you do whenever you feel like it or any time there's a game coming up. This is going to be a 24/7 life for everyone who gets on. And if you can't hack it, you'll be out. If you're not sure you can do that... there's the door."

She pauses, watching everyone in the bleachers, all of whom are watching her with wrapped attention. None of the students move, least of all Pandora herself.

"Okay then, let's do this. We're going to be starting off with the newest member of our school and the principal's daughter, Pandora. If anyone's got school spirit, it would have to be her don't you think?" suggests Sarah.

The head cheerleader leaves the mat in front of the bleachers that had been set up for the try outs just as the crowd starts cheering for Pandora. She gets up from her seat and makes her way down to the gym floor, taking her place at the center of the mat. Sarah has set herself up at a table between the mat and the bleachers facing the mat so she can observe the performers, which at this particular moment, is Pandora. On either side of Sarah is Nina and Kat, both of whom are looking on with a very intense and very critical look on their faces. Sarah looks much more relaxed by comparison.

There's a long pause as the crowd calms down and Pandora tries to keep herself calm in front of all those people.

Sarah decides to egg her on, "Whenever you're ready Pandora."

Pandora takes a deep breath and then nods towards Nina who has a playlist hooked up to a decent sized speaker. Nina plays the song, it's a simple techno piece, without words and a steady beat. Pandora takes a few moments to find the beat and get comfortable with it before launching into her fairly simple routine.

"So I can't really rhyme... but that's fine. Some other fine cat... will do that. All I have to do... I'm sure... is make sure the others... don't go splat. So there's that. And my promise to you... is this is something I can do. So put my on your crew... and let me show you how I move. I won't make you look bad... and I catch on really fast. I'll even go to bat... for Nina and Kat. No matter where you put me... you'll never lose me. And now I'll end things... with a back flip like this."

Pandora launches herself just as she says those final words into a back flip on the mat, landing it perfectly and ending it with her arms in the air in a similar pose to a gymnast who has just completed a perfect routine. Almost immediately, the crowd starts cheering for Pandora. However her focus is on the three judges at their table. Sarah seems very happy about Pandora's performance, though the other two are harder to read. They're talking behind Sarah's back and out of Pandora's view. It isn't long before Sarah pushes them to focus on what they're there for.

Sarah speaks as the crowd's enthusiasm slows, "Thank you Pandora. We appreciate the effort."

Pandora takes a deep breath before heading off the mat and back to the bleachers. Several students congratulate her as she does.

"Great job." one of them says with a happy tone.

"Awesome stuff." another one insists.

"You were really great out there." says the other one earnestly.

"Thanks." Pandora responds, enjoying the feeling the praise gives her.

"All right, let's have the next person please..." Sarah beckons.