One Perfect Year at Stevenson High

Chapter 5

Auditions for Vocal Rebellion were scheduled for Friday. The format was simple: each prospective member would perform a single song without musical accompaniment, before being interviewed by the glee club's captain and musical director.

Compared to the hoops–both literal and figurative–Adora had jumped through during her Valkyries try-out, she was confident that belting out one song and acing an interview wouldn't be a problem. After all, whether she was in the shower, getting ready for school, or running choreography with the Cheer Force, Adora was constantly singing. She wasn't shy either–performing was second nature to her at this point. When she skimmed the details on Glimmer's poster that Monday, Adora was certain she had her audition in the bag.

But the first week back at school was much busier than she anticipated. Not only had Coach Weaver made good on her threat to start quizzing Adora on the captain's manual as early as Tuesday's practice–nothing she couldn't handle with a bit of lunchtime cramming–she had also scheduled practice for every night that week. Between classes, cheer, and the swell of popularity that came with being captain of the Valkyries, Adora didn't realize she hadn't given any more thought to her audition until lunch on Friday.

The entire squad was eating at their regular table in the cafeteria, as they did every day, when Lonnie pulled a face.

"Ew."

"Tell me about it." Scorpia picked woefully through the salad on her tray. "I know we're on a special meal plan and stuff, but this is just sad. Dressing on the side? Come on."

Adora reached across the table and nudged Scorpia's plate an inch closer to her. "Stop complaining and each your damn vegetables. You cannot live on protein alone."

"Not that." Lonnie rolled her eyes and pointed her fork to a point across the room. "That wannabe raver over there has been staring at us since we sat down."

The squad's collective gaze followed in the direction Lonnie's fork. Adora's stomach dropped. There, at a table filled with theater kids and would-be poets, was Glimmer. When their eyes met, she flashed a nervous grin and offered up a small wave.

Oh no, Adora thought, swallowing down a sense of rising doom. It's audition day and I have nothing prepared!

Not that Glimmer needed to know that. Adora smiled with the false confidence hammered into her from years of competitive cheer and was just lifting her hand to wave back when Catra snatched it in her own and force it back under the table.

"What are you doing?" Catra hissed, leaning in close so the others wouldn't hear. Her hand clenched around Adora's like a vice.

"That's Glimmer, the captain of Vocal Rebellion," Adora explained in an indignant whisper.

"I know who she is! Why are you acknowledging her in front of the whole squad? Are you nuts?"

When it came to social hierarchies at Stevenson High, the lines were clearly drawn and well observed. The Valkyries, along with the rest of the school's athletically inclined, were at the top of the proverbial food chain. Mingling with the commoners—especially the artsy types—was generally reserved for group projects and fundraisers.

But Adora had always been more approachable than the rest of her squadmates, and now she was worried Catra's interception had made her look rude. She leaned back surreptitiously, hoping to catch Glimmer's eye again, but the glee club captain was already deep in conversation with a handsome, smiling boy in a crop top. When they tossed their heads back to laugh, Adora didn't get the sense they were doing it at the expense of someone else.

"Great," she whispered in Catra's ear. "I'll bet she thinks I'm a stuck-up bitch now."

Catra turned her face. They were so close their noses almost bumped. A sharp grin cut across her face. "You're a cheerleader — everyone thinks you're a stuck-up bitch."