Today was the pep rally for the big charity game that the boys were playing after school. It was the middle of the season and playoffs were coming up in a few short weeks, just before prom. All of the cheerleaders were in the locker room getting ready. They were wearing their competition uniforms which weren't that much different from their regular uniforms. The skirts were just shorter and the tops were more cropped, not that half of the girls on the team minded.
Demi was in the mirror putting in her belly button ring because she had taken it out when Drake had taken her to the beach after practice one day. She smiled at the thought of him but then shook those tingly feelings that she was getting in the tips of her toes away because there were more important things to focus on.
"DRAKE!" Naya squealed, using her arms to cover her exposed boobs because she was switching her bras. Drake just laughed and headed over to where Demi was finishing off with her belly button ring.
"I'm getting Coach Reese!" Naya exclaimed, but she just continued getting dressed. The other girls watched as Demi turned around and smiled at him.
"You know you can get suspended for being in here?" Demi reminded him, but Drake just shrugged and handed her the gift bag.
"Open it. You might need it tonight," Drake thrust it into her hands and Demi set it down on the bench, leaning down to pull out whatever was inside of it. It was the obnoxiously large pink bow that they were all obligated to wear for the game tonight but that's not what caught Demi's eye. Spelled out in skinny silver ink was the word "PROM?" and Demi smiled in realization.
"You're so gay, Drake," Demi giggled, wrapping her arms around him and squeezing him as hard as she could.
"But I would love to go to prom with you," squeals and screams erupted in the locker room as Demi stood on the tips of her toes to kiss Drake's lips. Drake smiled in success and shot a wink her way before exiting the locker room so that the girls could continue getting ready, yet as soon as he left they all rushed over to Demi and made her take pictures with the bow to put on Instagram. And let the adorably extravagant prom proposals begin.
"Demi, concentrate on your landing on the twisting layout. Don't stress about it. Just trust your body," Coach Reese was walking with Demi as she made her way to her position in the corner of the gym. The twisting layout wasn't what the routine was opening with. It was the last tumble of the routine and everyone would be off of the floor when she did it.
"I got it," Demi nodded at her and set her pom pons on the ground. Jhene was across from her on the other side of the gym because they were tumbling together.
Demi scanned the student body in the bleachers and saw Trey, Chris, Drake, Sean, and the rest of the basketball players on the front row with their sweatshirts on. She offered them a wave and they all mouthed various forms of good luck to her. When it was completely silent, Chris yelled out, "YOU BETTER TEAR THIS FLOOR UP DEMI!" and was immediately shushed by a nearby teacher.
The opening beat of Bow Down began to play and Demi and Jhene instantly ran for momentum and threw themselves into their full layouts, making the crowd go wild. They had a dance sequence then a few stunts to get everyone pumped up before they had to tumble again. Demi was mentally counting in her head to make sure that she wasn't off and when she looked back at the other girls, they were all moving together. She kept her smile plastered on her face as the song transitioned and they moved into their stunts.
Cheering could be annoying and the uniforms were too short and having to catch girls was a really big hassle, but Demi knew that she had a bright future in the sport because it was just so effortless for her. And behind all the whining and complaining, she actually really enjoyed it.
