The Flyer & The Frat Star

The Competition

Josephine

These past 2 weeks with Hero have been some of the best of my entire life, and that's not even an exaggeration. After our impromptu wine and pizza night, I've felt even closer to him than I did before. What happened between us felt so intimate, so right, and although I wasn't comfortable going any further than some heavy making out still, I'd be lying if I said the thought of taking the next step hasn't been on my mind lately. We've fallen into a comfortable routine of getting lunch together on campus every day, sitting together in our English class, and having sleepovers on the weekends. Most of the time I just pass right out after hours of cheer practice but waking up in Hero's arms in the morning has become my favorite part of the week, plus he doesn't seem to mind my tiredness. He never fails to make me feel special and wanted, and he always verbalizes how happy he is just to be in my presence. It honestly all feels like a dream, too good to be true, but I'm trying to muffle that pessimistic voice in my head and just enjoy all the good things coming my way. I can confidently say that I've fallen head over heels for Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, and that scares the absolute crap out of me. I love him, but I know it's far too soon to admit that out loud. I've never been in love before, but I can't imagine it feeling any different than the way I feel when I'm with Hero. He makes me feel safe, comfortable, sexy. He makes me laugh and think and feel things I never thought I could possibly feel. When he introduced me to some classmates of his that stopped by our table during lunch one day as his girlfriend, I was over the moon with giddiness. I had a boyfriend, and a drop dead gorgeous one at that. Who would've thought? I still haven't mentioned my relationship to my family, knowing that they worry about me being so far from home, plus I don't get the chance to talk to them that often as we've been practicing for our upcoming competition that will decide if we get a bid to Nationals. I'll tell them when the time is right, and I have no doubt they'll love Hero just as much as I do.

Khadijha and Sam have still been fooling around quite a bit, but I can't help but feel as though Sam is way more into her than she is into him. I've seen the undeniable chemistry between her and Pia firsthand during our cheer practices. Khad's vented to me after many a drunken night stumbling back into our dorm room how she really likes Pia, but that she's not comfortably out yet due to her conservative family. I feel bad for Sam knowing Khad's heart isn't in whatever they are, but she's assured me multiple times that she's set the record straight that it's nothing serious.

We're currently finishing up packing our suitcases for the long weekend trip to San Francisco for our competition. We've been busting our asses all week at practice morning, noon, and night to prepare, and my body has certainly felt the repercussions. The plus side of sore muscles and achy joints is the massages Hero insists on giving me after practice any time I wince in pain. Every time his large hands warm my skin I feel a rush of pleasure shoot through me, remembering our night together and the words he moaned, and I know I'm ready to take it further with him. I know I'll have to initiate it considering he still acts like I'm a porcelain doll when it comes to anything sexual. I'm jolted from my naughty reverie by Khadijha's squeal as she pulls me into a tight hug, "We're gonna fucking kill it at competition, Jo! Nationals here we come!" I squeeze her back, genuinely ecstatic for our upcoming performance. Every time I compete it reminds me why I love cheerleading so much, and I'm fiending for the adrenaline of being on the mat desperately. It's like a high to me, although Hero may be my new favorite drug.

It's now the very early morning of the competition. The squad checked into our hotel as soon as we got in yesterday afternoon and spent the rest of the night perfecting our routine. Khad and I immediately passed out once we got back to our room, but I still couldn't stop the buzz in my veins that always accompanies the night before competition day. Hero tried to FaceTime me last night to talk like we usually do, but I fell asleep and missed his call. He was very understanding and sent me the sweetest good luck message instead, my heart fluttering as I read his words the next morning. I wish he was here to watch us perform, but I knew he had some big project due next week that he was planning to work on over the weekend. I couldn't expect him to just up and fly to California to watch a 2-minute routine, no matter how desperately I wanted him to see our new routine. Thinking about Hero watching me perform takes me back to that pep rally which seems like a lifetime ago. I remember my mortification when I winked at him, the thrill of knowing he was watching me in my element, and I can't believe how far we've come in such a short time.