Chapter 3
ZARA
The pyramid in front of me is a mess. There are terrible lines everywhere, and it looks like several members of the squad are about to fall. I can't believe this is what I'm working with. The squad was so good at the beginning of the year, but since the near-disaster in the last round of our cheer competition, it's gone from bad to worse. I think it's a motivation thing, I just don't know how to fix it. Even the team-building exercise we went on doesn't seem to have done very much.
"Rest!" I shout.
There are several groans and a thud as the pyramid disbands.
"That was abysmal. Take a break." I wave the squad away, needing a moment to cool down before I say something I regret. I have no problem telling the squad that they need to work at stuff, but I don't want to be too mean and make people want to quit.
"That wasn't too bad," Yuri says as she comes to join me.
I raise an eyebrow at my best friend. "That was the worst pyramid I've ever seen.
"That might be a little far," she responds. "And we're only just getting warmed up, we don't normally try advanced stuff like this until we've already done a few cheers."
"But if we can't get this right, we're going to fail again. You remember what happened in the last round of the competition." My gaze slips to where Grace is flirting with her boyfriend instead of doing anything productive. If she hadn't gotten her wings out mid-performance, we wouldn't have lost as many points with the judges and would have gotten through much easier. I know it shouldn't matter, especially when we did get through, but I'm still annoyed about it even so.
"It was a fluke," Yuri says. "I heard some of the others talking and apparently some of the guys nearly dropped Mandy. Grace only got her wings out to make it look like the whole thing was on purpose."
I sigh. "Then there are even more weak spots in our training. And our teamwork." I survey the squad, trying to work out exactly what the best course of action is. We've got three months until the final of this year's cheer competition, and that doesn't feel like enough time to get everyone into shape.
Some of the squad are laughing and joking around, only making me more annoyed about the state of things. I know it's unreasonable to be mad at them for bonding, but it just makes me think that no one is taking this seriously.
"All right, everyone, back in formation," I shout, trying not to let my frustration into my voice but no doubt failing massively. I know what they all think of me. I'm too hard on them and they don't think they can catch a break. But it's either that or watch the team fail at even the most basic cheers
Within seconds, the whole squad is lined up and waiting for my next instruction. For anyone else, this could be a power trip, but I don't see it like that. It's about far more than that to me.
"We've only got three months to get a winning routine in place, which means we need to practice, practice, practice," I insist. "And I want you all to be doing everything you can on your own to make sure you're in good shape."
There are several groans through the group but I ignore them. As much as they complain about it, I know they're all going to conform. They're not here because their parents have forced them to be or because they need it for another reason. They're here because they want to be, and that creates a very motivated team, even if it's not translating into perfect cheers at the moment.
I shout them through the motions, trying to assess the weak points in each formation and not really getting very far. Technically, most of it is fine. People flip when they're supposed to, get flung into the air, and do all of the tricks they should. There's just something missing. It's like the spark is missing from the Sapphire Sparks.
I just wish I knew what to do to get it back. Maybe I should have turned down the position of captain when I was offered it. I thought I had what it takes but maybe that isn't the case. I banish the thought. As much as it feels like it might be true, I know I can't dwell on it, not when I have to focus my attention on actually leading the squad and not letting my insecurities get in the way.
It's only once I dismiss the squad that I let out a sigh. It isn't the worst practice ever, but there's no way the team is going to win with the routine I've choreographed.
"All right, spill. What's up?" Yuri asks between sips of water.
"We need something that makes us stand out from all the other cheer squads," I say. "And we don't have it."
Yuri looks over the squad who are breaking away and getting ready to head back to their dorms or the library or wherever else they plan on going. "I see your point."
"I just don't know how to fix it," I admit. "You can't tell anyone, obviously."
"Obviously," she repeats. "Can't have the cold cheer captain be seen as weak."
"I'm not cold," I mutter.
"You're literally an ice dragon. It's not your fault that some of that carries through to your personality."
I roll my eyes, trying not to be too hurt by what she's saying, even if I know that's what some of the squad think of me. "Not helpful."
"All right, what can we do?" Yuri asks. "We could watch every cheesy cheerleading movie that's ever been made for ideas."
I snort. "If we listen to those, then all we need to do is try a load of different types of dance until we find the right one to mix into our routine."
"Okay, so why can't we do that?" she asks slowly. "If we're looking for the thing that makes the Sapphire Sparks unique, then that's one way to find it."
"What? Are you serious? You want me to go up to the society for salsa dancing and ask them to teach a load of cheerleaders how to do it?"
Yuri shrugs. "Why not? It's only the same as blowing our budget on team-building exercises."
Without meaning to, my mind goes back to the food festival and watching the fire dancers perform. I had been admiring the way they moved and comparing some of it to what we did when we cheered. "You know what, yeah. Let's do it. We should see which societies have time to teach us things and go from there. You'll help me send out the emails, right?"
"Sure. I have a date at seven, but after that I'm yours."
"Should you be going at all if you think you'll end up in my room?"
Yuri rolls her eyes. "It's a first date, it's not going to end anywhere else. You know I don't do that."
"No, you just wait until the second date," I tease.
"I do not," she protests. "But that's immaterial. Expect me around nine, and none of that decaf stuff you drink, I want proper caffeine."
"We live in the same flat, you can make coffee from your own cupboard."
"I want you to make it for me if I'm going to help you out."
"All right, you've got a deal." I'm not sure if what she's suggesting is going to work, but we have to try something if we want to win the cheer competition, and this is as good as anything. And with a few months to go, there's still a little bit of time for us to experiment with. I just hope this isn't about to blow up in our faces.