Don't Leave Me

Chapter 3

"So how many spots need to be filled this year?" Sage asked, plugging in the portable stereo.

"Six, I think." I stated, checking the slots on my charts, connected to my clipboard. "Yeah, six."

We need to refill from all the seniors that graduated last year.

I set everything up, making last minute touches to the mats laid out.

"You're such a perfectionist," Sage laughed, sitting in her seat behind our table.

Mr. Graham, the principle, lent us the gym for tryouts as well as plush chairs and nicer tables.

"Shut up, I am not." I retorted, plugging the Auxiliary cord into my iPhone that's connected to the stereo.

This year's song is Shake It Off by Taylor Swift, which I just bought on iTunes this morning.

"Did Matt ask you to Homecoming this year yet?" Sage asked, looking through the list of girls for tryouts. "Clair is so clumsy," she mumbled, shaking her head.

She's a question asker. And can be very judgmental. Obviously.

"No, he hasn't." I informed her as the first girl walked in for her tryout. "But just because we're dating, doesn't mean we automatically go together. Matt and I had this conversation last year." I muttered, standing up to greet this girl.

Tryouts don't start for another six minutes.

"Can I help you?"

"I'm Addilyn, and I'm here for my tryout for the cheer squad." She said matter-of-factly with a rude tone.

"Okay Addilyn," I retorted, just as rude. "Tryouts haven't started yet, so you can wait just like everyone else."

"I'm going to tryout now," she informed us. "And I have my own music and routine."

I laughed in her face, walking back over to the table.

"You'll perform your tryout when it's your turn just as every other girl will." I grabbed my clipboard, looking over the charts. "That's that." I confirmed.

I skimmed through the charts a bit deeper, realizing her name isn't even on the list.

I looked up at her with a quizzled look, "Your name is Addilyn?"

"I said that didn't I?" She said, with a hand hooked on her hip while she inspected her manicured nails.

I ignored her, keeping my cool. This little bitch wannabe is not going to get the best of me.

"Last name?" I asked her.

Addilyn is nowhere to be seen in the slots.

"Stevens,"

I looked under S, no Stevens.

"You're not on my charts, therefore you may not have a tryout today," I confirmed, sitting down. "They'll be another in the spring, you may tryout then."

And with that, my attention no longer belongs to her.

I turned my attention towards Sage, who had wide eyes with her jaw dropped.

"What?" I asked innocently.

"Damn, Aud-" she started,

"Listen here, Barbie," Addilyn spoke with a cocky attitude, rushing over to us, bracing her arms on the table. "I'm doing my tryout right now and there isn't anything you can do about it."

"Oh maybe not," I shrugged, "but I'm squad captain, therefore I have final say on who joins the team and who doesn't." I said calmly with a bright smile.