Chapter Three
Serenity
‘And five, six, seven, eig— Serenity, you are late!’
My first thought is, I’m throwing this away. I’m throwing this all away down the river.
‘I’m so sorry!’ I shout, a pair of poms already grasped in my fists as I fall in line and match the moves of my squad members, plastering the biggest smile on my face as we go through the motions for our opening number.
Underneath the floodlights illuminating the field and row upon row of empty seats, my smile doesn’t break, even when I catch the look that our head coach Kathleen Lafferty gives Harmony Reese, a fifth-year veteran and captain of the Mutineers’ cheer squad, a look that says talk to your rookies about being on time.
Behind my glittering smile, and through my high kicks, my sense of panic begins to mount.
Sometimes, I swear my brain is not engaged.
I must have imagined putting that cash for groceries in my purse, because it was on the back seat of my car all along.
I wouldn’t have had to stop for groceries after my shift if Dad had done as he’d promised he would.
Times like these I think Momma was right.
And never even mind the tall, cute guy with dark hair and solid build who came to my rescue.
My mind was racing during the whole interaction, and I’ve tried to retrace the memory as best I can.
Jake, was that his name? He seemed nice, almost too nice.
But maybe I’m being too harsh. After working at Surly’s for so long, I’ve gotten too used to sleazy guys who view me solely as an object.
But I still couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t take the money.
What the hell was he thinking? When it comes to money, I’m not a girl who fools around.
Do I mind him coming to the diner? He seems a little clean-cut for the Bounty’s usual clientele.
And that accent definitely wasn’t from around here.
A part of me hopes he doesn’t follow through on his promise to come visit me Friday.
I don’t even know why I said Friday. I’m pretty much there every day.
But Friday gives him a few days to forget all about me and reconsider the decision.
Even if I was completely charmed by him.
My guess is that Mr Wholesome will be a no-show.
‘I’m so sorry,’ I say, coming up beside Harmony when rehearsal is over.
She’s taller than me. She’s got long, dark hair and her eyes are a stormy shade of dark blue.
I know she qualified as a rookie cheerleader aged twenty, which would put her at twenty-five now, three years older than me.
Everybody knows how supportive she is, but Kathleen expects her to lead us, and that means keeping us all in line.
‘Don’t worry,’ she smiles at me. ‘Just try to be on time in future.’ She lowers her voice a notch. ‘Kathleen’s a stickler for punctuality.’
‘I ran into traffic downtown.’
Because I had to pick up groceries and got held up talking to a cute guy at the store.
‘Always leave an extra half hour earlier if you can. That way, when you’re sat in traffic, you don’t need to worry so much about being late. Plus, I use the extra time to apply my makeup. I take a mirror for when traffic’s backed up.’
The truth is, I parked my beat-up Ford C-Max on the farthest edge of the lot at the Danube Stadium.
I could see the other girls had all parked a lot closer, but my car is a heap of junk, and I can’t afford a better one.
So, I’d grabbed my tote bag from the trunk and headed toward the staff members’ door of the stadium, the over-sized, dark navy ‘M’ for Mutineers emblazoned on one side of the sizeable venue, taking up the full height, together with the crossed swords: the emblem of Canyon’s football team.
Parking so far away added another five minutes to my journey.
I submitted my application to join the squad at the beginning of the year.
I got invited to the first round of auditions in March.
It’s August now, and it feels like we’ve been rehearsing all this time, only week by week, some girls failed to make the cut.
It was hard to say goodbye to them. Tonight was a dress rehearsal as the finalized squad for Thursday’s opening game of the pre-season.
I’m in my full kit: the shortest, snuggest pair of white hotpants a girl ever had to wear in her lifetime, a chunky belt with red stars, a long-sleeved top that leaves my midriff bare, the dark navy shape of the ‘M’ on the front in contrast with the clinging red-and-white fabric.
It’s made-to-measure. On my feet are white leather cowgirl boots with a heel.
It’s humid in the August heat; sweat and makeup are not the happiest of bedfellows.
‘Forget about it,’ Harmony continues and puts her arm around my shoulders. ‘You should be celebrating, tonight you get to sign your contract!’
She’s right. Tonight is a big deal for all of us, but especially us rookies. I never thought I’d be standing here, wearing the Mutineers cheerleaders’ uniform.
A half hour later, and still in our uniforms, the squad is assembled once more, this time around a table in a windowless conference room, a paper copy of our contract placed in front of each one of us, alongside a Mutineers branded pen that they sell from kiosks on game days.
I look around at these incredible women I’ve joined forces with, and I feel proud of myself.
Proud for submitting my initial application and proud that I’ve made it this far.
That is, until I open up the paper and skim over the list of rules I’m expected to abide by during my tenure as an official member of the Canyon Mutineers’ cheerleading squad, and my stomach bottoms out:
Candidates must demonstrate full commitment to the CMC squad. Attendance at all rehearsals is mandatory, not optional. Any cheerleader who feels they cannot give 100% commitment to the squad should reconsider their appointment.
It is essential all CMC be punctual for all rehearsals and on game days.
CMC members should not stray from within the boundary of their ideal body weight as designated by their BMI ratio (within three pounds in either direction). Full hair and makeup are required for all rehearsals and on game days.
Conduct (Pt. 1): It is forbidden for any member of CMC to bring into disrepute the upstanding reputation of the Canyon Mutineers football team, or their emblem of the crossed swords, by any means, through improper or unladylike behavior. This includes wearing of appropriate attire at all times.
Before I’ve even finished reading, I look up, because Angel, a second-year veteran, and the owner of the longest legs in Canyon, and Shawny, a third-year veteran, are both pointing at a clause in the contract and snickering.
‘Every year,’ Angel sighs under her breath, looking down the table. I follow her gaze. She’s looking at Harmony, who, at the other end of the table, is quietly reading through her contract.
‘If I was her, I would have quit last year,’ Shawny hisses back, keeping her voice low and flicking her white-blonde hair over her shoulder.
Angel pulls a face. ‘Didn’t I hear somebody say she’d promised him she would? I mean, one more year feels like salt in the wound.’
Shawny pouts. ‘For him, maybe.’
‘What are y’all talking about?’ Jewel – who is a rookie like me – with black, corkscrew curls and a whole heap of confidence, leans over and whispers in their direction.
Angel and Shawny look at one another, before checking nobody else is listening. I mean, it’s not like I’m trying to overhear, but they’re right next to me.
‘You get to clause five yet?’ Shawny asks us.
I glance down at my contract.
Conduct (Pt. 2): It is strictly prohibited for members of CMC to fraternize with, or date, any NFL pro-player, but most pertinently, any member of the Canyon Mutineers football team, while under contract as a serving member of the CMC.
This includes any phone contact or contact through social media platforms. Some professional, polite interaction is permitted where it is necessary for the benefit of the Mutineers team, but this shall be supervised.
Players and cheerleaders are therefore forbidden to be sweethearts or enter into any kind of courtship with one another.
Violation of any of these rules outlined above will result in immediate dismissal from the squad.
Jewel frowns. ‘You mean I can’t even talk to any guy on the team?’
Shawny’s snickering again. ‘You can’t even breathe the same air. Not unless you wanna get fired and have the pointy end of Kathleen’s Jimmy Choo stuck up your ass.’
Angel raises her eyebrows in Harmony’s direction. ‘Let’s just say Cap has an admirer on the football team and has done since she was a rookie.’
Jewel’s eyes light up. ‘Who?’
Angel raises an eyebrow. ‘I’m not sure y’all are supposed to know.’
Shawny’s lips twist. ‘Oh, come on,’ she whispers. ‘Everybody knows it’s Hudson Briar.’
Jewel’s eyes go wide. My gaze travels between them both. ‘Who is Hudson Briar?’ I ask.
‘Honey,’ Angel says. ‘I thought you was from Canyon?’
‘I am,’ I tell her. ‘But I don’t really have time to follow football.’
Shawny’s frowning at me. ‘What’s keeping you so busy?’
‘I have a job. Plus, I… I have to look after my dad. He’s not well.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ Angel says, with genuine sympathy.
‘Hudson Briar is a Mutineers wide receiver,’ Jewel informs me. ‘And he is all man,’ she adds in a low hum.
‘I’ll have to look him up,’ I say with a smile.
‘His brother Dalton is the captain of the Mutineers,’ Shawny adds.
‘So, what’s the deal with Hudson and Harmony?’ Jewel whispers.