One Perfect Year at Stevenson High

Chapter 29

Getting backstage was the easy part. It didn't matter that none of them had passes draped around their necks like everyone else — Adora was such a familiar and well-liked face in the local cheer circuit that no one thought twice about letting her, Bow, and Glimmer breeze into the performers' area.

The hard part was staying inconspicuous and out of sight while they waited for Coach Weaver to leave.

Hood up, Adora loitered behind a clustered cheer team and stole sneaky glances between their shoulders. From what she could see, Coach Weaver was giving the Valkyries a hard time about something, as usual. They stood in front of her in a neat line and took their berating in stoic silence. Adora huffed and shook her head. She didn't miss being treated like that at all.

Finally, someone hurried to Coach Weaver's side and got her attention. They motioned to the exit into the main hall and Coach Weaver nodded.

"I think this is it," Glimmer whispered from where she and Bow crouched behind a mound of gear bags, peering through ankles. Adora joined them, keen to stay out of sight as Coach Weaver swept through the room. Most people were smart enough to scamper out of her way. Those that weren't fast enough were unceremoniously shoved instead. No one dared to challenge her.

"Man, she is..." Bow hesitated, choosing his words carefully.

"A bitch." Glimmer finished for him. "She's a bitch."

"Okay, come on," Adora huffed as she jumped to her feet. "We might not have much time before she comes back."

The three friends darted across the room toward the Valkyries, where Rogelio and Kyle were gingerly helping Lonnie into a seat. Catra paced in front of them, her tail twitching with agitation. Adora caught their conversation as she drew closer.

"Don't be stupid," Catra snapped. Her voice was tense. "You'll just make it worse. And if you make it worse then you might not be able to perform at Nationals, and then we'll really be in trouble."

Kyle handed Rogelio a cold compress from the team first aid kit. Rogelio in turn pressed it to Lonnie's ankle, who hissed a breath in between her clenched teeth.

"Do you have a better idea?" Lonnie retorted. "Because if we screw this up, we won't have to worry about Nationals because we won't be going at all."

"Just, let me think." Catra massaged her furrowed brow with her fingertips. "We can fix this, I just need—"

Adora cleared her throat. "What's going on?"

Catra spun around so quickly, Adora thought she might fall over herself.

"What are you doing here?" Catra's eyes were wide and bewildered.

"Are you okay?" Bow asked, ignoring Catra and instead directing his question at Lonnie. She grimaced and shook her head.

"I landed wrong on my final dismount," she grunted.

Nodding thoughtfully, Adora sighed. "I thought that might have been what happened."

"Does Coach Weaver know?" Glimmer asked, edging closer to Lonnie and eyeing her rapidly swelling ankle with concern.

"Um, hello?" Catra raised her voice over the conversation. She threw her hands up in frustration. "Are you all deaf? Seriously, why are you here?"

Adora reminded herself that Catra was stressed, and tried not to take her attitude personally. "I wanted— I mean, we wanted to watch you guys compete. Y'know, moral support and stuff?"

A soft blush colored Catra's cheeks. She made a couple unintelligible noises that sounded like they could have been words had she not been so flustered. Glimmer folded her arms and gave Adora a knowing look.