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Luckily for Mason, the counselor didn’t make him and Kevin talk during the counseling session, but we know it will come, eventually. Everything was pretty quiet over the weekend and now it was already Tuesday. Today was a big day, too! I woke up with a smile on my face, as I pulled on my away jersey over my white shirt…the jersey is red, with black letters and outlining. I finished getting ready, grabbed my backpack and duffel bag, and then sprinted down the stairs.

“Don’t forget…I won’t be home until really late, tonight!’ I grinned, at Nick. Taking a seat at the table, I rubbed my hands together, as Nick set a plate of food down.

“Oh, I haven’t forgotten, Bay!” The smirk, on Nick’s face, told me something was up, but I wasn’t about to ask…not today!

“Mmm, that was good. Thanks Nick! See you guys lata!” I set my plate in the sink and headed out the door. I met up, with Sean, and we power walked all the way, to school. The halls were buzzing with excitement and the whole team met up, before class. We were hooting and hollering, psyching ourselves up. We had a big game this afternoon and the whole school was amped up.

I met back up with Sean and Allison, by my locker, before the warning bell rang. Allison and I had met up on Sunday night, for burgers and again last night, for a movie. It took me a bit, to get her to not be so shy, around me, but now I am finding that she’s such a sweet girl and I really like her. The three of us, were laughing about something, when it happened.

The double doors swung open and in came some of our JV cheerleaders, one in particular caught my eyes. Her long black curls looked as soft as silk and bounced loosely around her shoulders. The curls were in perfect ringlets, like I have only seen in commercials and movies. I couldn’t help but to look her over…she was beautiful. Eyes wide, mouth open, and jaw on the floor, I couldn’t keep myself from staring.

“Who’s the new chick?” Sean questioned, obviously taking in the same sight. Our heads were frozen, looking her way. The tight cheerleading uniform hugged her curves, in a way I had never seen, before. I glanced down, seeing how the short skirt showed off her toned legs, that I had seen so many times. Over the years, I have seen her in bathing suits and shorts…but this was something different, all together. Her flat stomach was peeking out, from under the cheerleading halter and it, too, looked…different.

“Uh…Sean…” I shook my head, not removing my eyes from the beauty before us. “…I don’t think…that’s a new chick.” Maybe it was the air of confidence that surrounded her. Maybe it was the genuine smile that lit up her face. Or maybe it was just the make-over she had received. It may have even been just because I have missed her so much. Whatever the case is, my brain wouldn’t stop thinking things that a best friend shouldn’t think.

“Morgan?!?” Sean’s voice failed him, and it came out as more of a gasp. Morgan and the other girls stopped, directly, in front of us. I bit my bottom lip, hoping she would speak to me. She had spoken to Sean some, sure it was only at school and in very small amounts, but at least she had talked to him. Not a word had been spoken, to me, since she broke off our friendship.

“Well, hey Sean!” Her voice had a giggle to it, as she grinned at him. The other cheerleaders flocked around me, for just a moment, to wish me luck. Within a blink, of an eye, they were all headed down the hallway, with guys trailing behind. Morgan’s arm was in a much smaller cast now, only covering her thumb and lower forearm, but she still had someone else carrying her things.

“Wow…she sure looks pretty today!” Allison smiled, causing me to snap out of my trance.

“That’s the understatement of the year!” Sean chuckled. “I’ve known her for years and always thought she was pretty, but….wow…I’ve never seen her look THAT good!”

“Man…I just wish she would talk to me!” I sighed loudly.

“Aw, don’t worry, Bay. She’ll come around. Everyone knows you guys are inseparable! Just…give her time, to get used to things. It’s a big thing that she’s been offered, you know.” Allison rested a hand on my shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“What? What…big thing? What are you talking about?” I turned to face Allison, whose face went red.

“You mean…” she looked from me, to Sean, and back to me. “…you guys don’t know?”

“We will, once you tell us!” I tilted my head, looking at her with anticipation. Now was the moment of truth…I would finally find out what, in the halibut, was going on. To say I was excited and anxious would be another understatement, of the year.

“Oh…um…well…you know how we are in 9th grade now and will go into 10th next year?” Allison bit her lip, looking very nervous.

“Uh huh…” Sean nodded, standing next to me.

“Well…she won’t be going…into 10th grade…with us.” Her eyes roamed, as the warning bell sounded. I gently grabbed her arm, as she turned, to head to class.

“What do you mean, Ali?” I asked, softly, wanting the rest of the story.

“They gave her some kind of test that day, when she was called into the office. For whatever reason, they thought that she wasn’t being challenged enough, in our grade. On the test, they gave her, her score came out really high. She scored way higher than a normal 9th grader should, so...they want her to go into 12th grade, next year, instead of 10th." Allison finished her explanation, in a rush.

“How did you know that?” Sean and I asked, in unison, looking at her with amazement.

“Um…the whole school knows…except you guys, I guess.” Allison shrugged and we all headed to class.

I spent the whole class, staring a whole into, the back of, Morgan’s head. I couldn’t believe this…it didn’t even make sense! She broke off our friendship, the day after she was called into the office. I knew, all along, then that her reasons had something to do with whatever had happened…but this…I didn’t expect this! Wasn’t this…like…a good thing? I’m not going to even pretend like I understand the connection between her skipping a couple grades and her calling off our friendship, but I sure as heck planned on finding out!

Before I knew it, we were in fourth period and the PA system buzzed. “All Junior Varsity basketball players and cheerleaders are now excused from class, to meet at the bus, in front of the school. Good luck tonight, boys!” The classroom erupted in cheers, as Dean, Josh, Matt, Morgan, Sarah and I all stood up.

“WAR-I-ORS! WAR-I-ORS!” Dean, Josh, Matt and I stood up on our chairs and chanted, punching our fists in the air. Hopping off the chairs, we approached the two girls, who stood in front, of the class. We took our positions behind them, as they cheered.

“We’re the best, we can’t be beat! So come on fans, get on your feet!” The two girls went through their movements, and the class stood up. I couldn’t help but watch Morgan…she looked like she had been cheering all her life. Her movements were precise, on point, and very strong. “Shout it out…let’s get loud! Our team is gonna make you proud! GO WARRIORS! Whoooo!”

“GO WARRIORS!” The whole class screamed, as we headed out the door. Walking into the hallway, I saw the rest of our teammates exiting their classes, as well. All of us chanted, as we stopped, at our lockers, to grab our things, and headed out to the bus. I was almost to the bus and I stopped, dead, in my tracks, when I noticed AJ’s black Escalade, in the school parking lot. Everyone else went around me, as I stood there, staring. There were red and black ribbons tied to the antenna, ‘Go Warriors’ in black paint on the back driver’s side window, ‘Baylee # 16’ in red paint, on the very top of the windshield. I could see that there were things painted on the rear window and back passenger window, but couldn’t read them.

“WHOOO! GO LITTLE B!” I smiled, seeing AJ nodding at me. He was leaning against the front, of the Escalade, wearing his black and read Warriors sweatshirt, with black jeans. What were they doing here?

“We’ll see you there, sweetie!” Riley stood beside AJ, also wearing a Warriors sweatshirt except with red pants. She had AJ’s arm draped over her shoulders and had that permanent smile, that has been on her face, ever since AJ popped the big question. See me there? That means…they’re going to my game!

“Good luck!” Nick leaned against his door, waving at me. He too was in all Warriors attire! Man, I guess they really are going to support me, at the game! “You’ll do great! We’re all proud of you, no matter what!” He was grinning from ear, to ear. I couldn’t have been happier, to see them. I didn’t figure they would go to this game. Sure it was a really important game…if we won this game, we were going to the state championships…but, the game was a three hour drive, away. Seeing AJ, Riley and Nick wasn’t even my biggest surprise…

“Hey, Baylee!” Mason stepped out of the car. “Thanks to you, I get to skip the rest, of school, today!” Nick was letting Mason skip school, to come?!? I was utterly shocked!

“Saddle up, Littrell!” Coach ordered, from behind me, slapping a hand on my shoulder. I smiled widely at the group and hopped onto the bus. I found my normal seat, in the very back…I always sit in the same spot! Looking out the window, I saw them pile into the Escalade and pull up, behind the bus. There were plenty of other cars, lining up, too. I guess we had a whole caravan, of people, going! When I looked out the other side, I saw all the varsity players and cheerleaders exiting the school and heading to the parking lot…they, almost, always make it to states. Were they going to our game?

“Are we ready?!?” The head cheerleader stood up, in the front, as the bus slowly started out of the parking lot.

“YES!” We all shouted, in response. It wasn’t until this moment, that I noticed Morgan was sitting across the aisle, from me. I gave her a smile, but she just looked at the ground. Did I mention how amazing she looks, today?

“Are we going to kick butt?!?”

“HECK YEAH!”

“I can’t hear you! Girls, let’s get these boys riled UP!” All the girls stood to their feet, as the bus pulled onto the highway. I know…technically, no one is ever supposed to stand up, when the bus is moving…but, coach and bus driver never scold us or tell us to sit down, so we do it anyways! You know, with a three hour drive, ahead of us, I’m not real sure why the girls want to get us riled up NOW. I guess it’s just because we are officially leaving and on our way. I shouldn’t be surprised, though, they do this every time. Not that I’m complaining, because it’s a lot of fun getting all hyped up!

The girls all lined up, down the aisle, of the bus. Seeing as she was sitting in the back, Morgan was standing right beside me. Morgan was facing away from me, as was every other girl, with the opposite girls, facing our way. “Let’s get physical…”

“Let’s get down, get rough, get mean!” The other guys and I took over, raising our voices.

“Let’s get physical…” each girl turned, facing the opposite direction, from what they started.

“Let’s get hard, get tough, get mean!” All, of us, guys, shouted.

“Let’s get physical…” I couldn’t stop my eyes from watching Morgan, again, as her hips moved, in time, with the other girls. Never, before, had I seen her have so much confidence, in herself. She got a lot of attention, at school, today and I think it has done wonders for her self esteem. Maybe joining the squad was a good idea. Now, I just have to work on getting our friendship back, on track.

“AND BEAT THE OTHER TEAM!” The whole bus joined in, everyone standing up. A few more cheers were shouted, before we settled into our seats. I looked out the back window, and saw that the black Escalade was still right behind us. We all just talked amongst ourselves, for now. It wouldn’t be until, about, 45 minutes before our arrival, that we would get all rowdy again. This was a big game, and would require a lot of energy. Trust me, when I say, by the time we pull into their school’s parking lot…we’ll be pumped, riled, rowdy, and ready to KICK BUTT!