𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐀 | The Girl Behind The Act

Chapter 19

Ariana

"Alright, that's a wrap for today, team. Remember, keep practicing the pyramid even in your sleep till you get it right," I called out to my squad.

They wearily got to their feet and headed back toward the locker rooms.

"Are you coming?" Shay asked, taking a sip from her water bottle.

"Just give me a minute," I replied, finding a spot at the end of the bleachers. Closing my eyes, I basked in the sun, letting it drain the last remnants of energy.

Today's practice might have been a tad intense. My mind felt divided, half focused on the new cheer routine and the other half wandering elsewhere.

Well, we're gearing up for our first game next week against Westside High. It's time to show them what we've got. And then there's the homecoming dance, an event some of us can't wait for.

"Hey you." His familiar voice brought me back to reality, and my heart skipped a beat just hearing him.

So, now he's interested in talking?

Is it because everyone's gone, and it's just us?

I glanced to the side, spotting Tristan jogging over, his T-shirt casually slung over his shoulder.

Oh fuck me.

His physique is absolutely mouthwatering. The perfect biceps, the sculpted six-pack – it's almost unreal.

Sweat glistened on his broad shoulders, tracing a path down his chest after a day of training in the sun.

He settled beside me, a faint blend of his cologne and sweat reaching my nose.

"How was practice?" I asked, watching him lean back against the bleachers right next to me.

"It went okay, I guess. And yours? I noticed you were putting a lot of effort into your routine. Must be quite the grind,"

I chuckled, sneaking a quick glance at him.

"Yeah, it was intense, but we're getting there. We're fine-tuning this routine for you Sterling Knights. The game against Westside High is just around the corner, and we're aiming to show them what we got."

He grinned, and his proximity made his hand reach out, absentmindedly playing with a strand of my hair.

I froze, my breath catching, but he seemed oblivious. In fact, he appeared lost in thought.

"Coach is really pushing us. By the way I've been to ask, if you weren't into cheerleading back then, what would you do with those amazing dance skills of yours?"

I chuckled and looked back at him.

"Well, I could be a gymnast or be part of a dance crew or something."

"But do you really enjoy cheerleading?"

"It's grown on me a bit. After two years, it's become second nature, and I'm pretty good at it. But I do miss dancing and the acrobatics."

He nodded, understanding in his eyes.

"But don't you get tired of all this?" His question caught me off guard.

"Why do you ask?" He shrugged, evading an answer.

I straightened up, a frown forming.

"Wait, since when did you want to start talking to me again? Last I checked, you were avoiding me."

He sat up abruptly, a frown mirroring mine.

"I wasn't avoiding you, I was just..."

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. But he fell silent, exhaling as he turned away.

"Just as I thought. You seriously don't expect me to just change overnight, do you? This is who I am and if you have a problem with that, that's not my concern anymore. You have no idea how hard I've tried just to fit in to this school, but since you're not trying to understand that, I'm got even gonna try with you anymore. But honestly Tristan, I really hoped you'd understand the way I am. Some people love to use other's weaknesses against them and I've learned that the hard way, which is why I'm very careful about the people I let into my life. So yes, I'm sometimes fed up with it, but believe me, I never liked it from the start. We all gotta be somebody in order to make it out of this hellhole right?"

I held his gaze, determined, while setting the record straight once again. He stared back, an unfamiliar look in his eyes. For a moment, it was just us, until the slam of the locker room door broke our intense connection.

"You're right, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."

He finally spoke, and I shook my head, standing up and grabbing my training bag.

"See you tomorrow?" He asked, rising as well.

"I guess so." His hand ran through his perfectly tousled hair, and I packed my converse, water bottle, and other belongings, zipping up my duffel bag.

"You should get going; you don't want to be late for your date with Jenny."

He scowled at me, and before he could respond, I turned and started heading back to the school building.

He gripped my arm, stopping me. I turned, almost colliding with him.

If I moved an inch closer, things would get heated. His eyes turned icy, focused on me.

"How did you find out about my date with Jenny tonight?" His tone was accusatory.

"I have my sources," I replied. He scoffed, his grip tight on my arm, though I barely felt the pain.

"Right, because being the queen bee here gives you access to everyone's business, even when it's none of your concern. I should've known better." I frowned and pulled my arm away from his grip.

"You can't blame me for trying to know everything that's going on with you. Especially after telling you something so vulnerable about me. You might just tell someone anytime."

His cold gaze wavered, and he stepped back.

"You really don't trust me, do you? You think I'd actually do something like that?"

I glared, arms crossed.

"You've been avoiding me since morning. What else did you expect me to think?"

He scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Wow. So, why did you tell me in the first place if you knew I'd go around and tell everybody?"

I opened my mouth but no words came out.

"I hoped you'd be real with me, Ariana, but you're not. This whole alter ego thing is getting into your head; you don't even know how to be the real you anymore and I'm not sure if I even wanna know. Keep it up and you'll lose everything and everyone that's close to you."

"Fuck off. You don't know what you're talking about."

I noticed his clenched jaw, and I worried I'd gone too far.

"Here's your reality check Ariana; there is no real you. You're just that conceited, self-centered girl that thinks everything is all about  her and worry about people finding out that she's not that perfect as she looks. It's all a bit much, even for you."

He shook his head, walking away, leaving me at the empty bleachers with hot tears streaming down my face.

I'm not sure what just happened, but one thing's certain: His words cut deeper than I expected.