Chapter 24 #3
The squad ran out cheering, doing kicks and jumps, and the crowd clapped appreciatively, but it was obvious folks weren’t sure what to make of the Jackets team.
Joe had explained to Leslie that they were now competing in a different division as they had more male-identifying students and that not only were they dressed differently than the other teams, but their music was different, their moves would be a bit more edgy, still regulation but just…
more. Joe had choreographed a unique routine that could be a smash hit…
or a flop. There was no doubt that the team was skilled, that they had perfected their routine, but there was always a chance the judges could think it was too out there.
The music started and it was a rock song, a tune from Nothing More called “We Don’t Stop,” which already made it stand out from the rest of the EDM/techno crowd.
The Jackets also had clips from the Beastie Boys “Whatcha Want” and the dance classic “Sexyback” from Justin Timberlake.
There weren’t the firework sound effects and zips and airhorns like the other groups who had gone before, but it definitely engaged the crowd.
Joe gasped as one of the stunts wobbled and he reached for Leslie’s hand, which he held with a death grip for the rest of the routine.
But there was no need. The kids stuck their landings, the tumbling went off without a hitch, and Joe’s three-man hype team even had a few moments to show off their B-boy moves.
Leslie wasn’t a judge, of course, but he knew quality when he saw it and the Jackets’ routine was a cut above everyone else that had performed that day.
“Here we go,” Joe breathed as the team went into their final pyramid. He squeezed Leslie’s hand even tighter and his knee bounced.
Leslie couldn’t even comprehend how to orchestrate such a complicated, intricate structure but these kids nailed it.
Every flyer was solid, the bases all stood strong, and when the music ended, the cheerleaders exploded out of their stance and screamed and hugged and jumped.
Every person in the crowd stood from their seats, clapping with expressions like “what did I just see that I loved so much?”
Joe turned on Leslie and leaped into his arms, wrapping his legs around Leslie and shouting an exuberant “ Yes! ” Leslie hugged him with all his might and laughed as Joe shouted.
Joe put his hands on Leslie’s face and gave him a big smooch and Leslie wished he had a picture of the joy on Joe’s face because he was too shocked to really take it in.
Then Joe wiggled to be put down, grabbed Leslie’s hand, and the two of them ran to the backstage area.
They found the team surrounding Terrell and Marti, who had apparently arrived in time to see the performance. Sandy was with them as well. He grinned at Leslie and gave him the metal horns, his sign of approval.
“You guys were perfect,” she said as she hugged the bouncing women and high-fived the men.
Terrell’s hand was wrapped in a brace and in a sling, but his smile was genuinely thrilled for his teammates.
“You nailed it,” he said, and he was carefully hugged by all of the team.
Then Joe was swarmed by his beloved Yellowjackets. He was scooped out of Leslie’s reach and picked up over the heads of his team. Leslie winced and hoped they were as steady with their coach as they’d been with each other.
“They better not drop him,” Leslie muttered as Sandy joined him.
“That was probably the coolest cheerleading I’ve ever seen, Brother Leslie. Twinkle Toes has set a new bar and those folks out there are quaking in their ballet slippers.”
Leslie chuckled and patted his brother on the shoulder. “I love it.”
I love him. And he couldn’t wait for the world to know.
It was another three hours until the results were announced so the team gathered together and shoved pizza in their faces as fast as they could.
The cheerleaders packed away as much, if not more, than their football counterparts would have.
Leslie loved their energy. He hadn’t spent a lot of time around female athletes and they were a trip.
There was more burping and talk of bodily functions than Leslie had thought possible.
And the team all gazed dreamily at their coach as if their souls were trying to express their gratitude for his leadership and he didn’t even realize it.
Leslie would remind him of this moment later, when they were alone, and could properly celebrate, because even if the Jackets didn’t win, they were triumphant.
At four o’clock, the teams went back out onto the mat and lined up to hear the results.
The Jackets, straightened up after their pizza orgy, maintained the proper sportsmanlike behavior as Joe and Marti had threatened them with hundreds of push-ups if they acted like fools.
They cheered for the other teams as they went through the other divisions.
When it got to them, Joe leaned closer to Leslie again as if he could siphon off strength.
He could have it. Leslie would give him the world.
And he intended to. When this day was over, Leslie was going to ask Joe to move in.
They were going to make a plan to go public.
Leslie was tired of waiting. He was as giddy as the kids standing onstage waiting to hear if they’d won.
“And now for the Large Coed Category. In third place we have MidAmerica Nazarene!” Everyone went nuts.
The Jackets didn’t lose their composure.
“In second place, Missouri Valley!” The team remained stock-still with well-rehearsed smiles on their faces.
It was down to them and the team from Kansas, who’d put on a clean performance as well.
Joe had explained they were the Jackets’ main competition, but after their performance, where one of their stunts had fallen, he thought they might have edged them out of contention, but then he had said the Jackets also had a mistake that he wasn’t sure the judges picked up on.
Leslie hadn’t seen anything, but Joe would know.
“The winner of this year’s NAIA Heart Of America Conference Cheer Championships is…Greenvale College!”
Joe froze and exhaled, letting the tension drip from his body. Leslie squeezed his shoulder and Joe turned to him, burying his face in Leslie’s chest.
“You did it, Twinkle Toes,” Sandy yelled, slapping him on the back.
Joe smiled at Sandy and high-fived him, but then he turned to Leslie, his eyes wet.
“I can’t breathe.”
Leslie laughed and gave him a squeeze. “Congratulations.”
Joe blinked and then pushed up on his toes.
And he kissed Leslie like no one was watching, like nothing else mattered.
“Thank you for believing in me,” he whispered against Leslie’s lips.
When he stepped back, he wiped at his tears and laughed at what was probably a stunned expression on Leslie’s face.
Then the chorus of “Oh. My. God!” filtered in and the gasps of the cheer squad pulled them both out of the moment.
Leslie and Joe both turned to find the entire squad gawking at them with their jaws hanging open, Marti laughing and Sandy shaking his head.
And then the questions started pouring in.