12. Endorsements
CHAPTER TWELVE
ENDORSEMENTS
COLSEN
“The next part of this class is vital for everything to run smoothly this year.” Carole says once order is restored.
“Like we told you several times, the job the Cove Knights and the Shooting Stars will have to do this year goes behind winning games and performing and dancing at elite levels. For Star Cove to get a real bid to our very own NHL team, we have to show the commission how hockey is an important part of the very fabric of this town. To do that, you’ll be asked to participate in appearances and activities beyond training and games.
Your increased participation in the life of our community and the popularity that’s resulting from the reality show don’t only translate into obligations. ”
Lexi smiles. “That’s right, Carole. Our sponsors and our marketing team have been hard at work from the second the first episode of the reality show aired.
They have been paying particular attention to the popularity of each player and each cheerleading candidate ever since you set foot at camp.
And I have very interesting results we want to share with you today. ”
Lexi clicks on a tiny remote to change the slide on the screen.
Vaughn’s body shot photo is replaced by a chart.
Most Popular Cheerleading Candidates:
Genevieve 81%
Taryn 81%
Talia 68%
Olivia 42%
Hillary 40%
The ratings go down from there. I wonder how much the women’s popularity with the viewers will affect management’s decision when it’s time to make cuts.
The cheerleaders’ reaction to the new information turns into several comments, as expected.
I turn to look at the row above me when I hear Genevieve’s not-so-subtle whisper. “Ugh. Seriously? Taryn and I have the same rating? What do I have to do to get the upper hand? If I don’t, Carole might choose Taryn over me as team captain.”
“Isn’t that up to the team to vote?” Her friend Olivia asks.
“In theory. But Carole and Lexi have the final say.”
I don’t like Gen’s tone and Mack has been listening too. We look at each other and we don’t need to say anything out loud to know that we need to warn Taryn. After the solo incident and the kickline debacle, Taryn should probably watch her back.
But that’s something to keep in mind for later. Lexi moves on to the next slide.
Most Popular Cove Knights:
Macklin Shayba 88%
Tucker Prescott 78%
Colsen Thomas 72%
Nash Belkin 68%
Vaughn Heston 51%
“Well done, brother.” Tucker whispers, giving me a congratulatory slap to the back.
“Thanks. You beat me, though.” I chuckle.
“Not a bad job for two old farts. But neither of you could beat the best of the best.” Mack chirps with a shit-eating grin that does nothing to hide his satisfaction.
If we were alone, I’d flip him off, but I’m painfully aware of Coach’s gaze being focused on our row. “Shut up. I’m one year older than you. Old fart is a little too much, don’t you think?”
Before Mack can offer the smart ass come back that I’d bet every cent in my account it’s on the tip of his tongue, Carole asks for our attention.
“These figures have been fairly consistent in the three weeks the show has been airing. But the reason we’re showing you these figures is that we have a surprise and a great opportunity for the people who have been consistently earning the favor of our viewers.
Lexi, will you do us the honor of showing everyone what our marketing team came up with? ”
Lexi bends down and grabs a few long and thin cardboard boxes that contain what looks like Barbie-type dolls or action figures.
“What are those?” Several people ask.
“Can someone in the first row come here to take a look and help by passing these around for everyone to check them out?”
We’re sitting quite high up in the amphitheater-style auditorium, so we can’t really see what the people in the first row are ooh-in and ah-in at until Carole changes the image on the big screen behind her to show the dolls that are being passed around the room.
“Fuck.” Tucker gasps. “Those are dolls of us. Look, mine has all the goalie pads.”
He’s right. Each doll is made to closely resemble the people at the top of the charts we were looking at a few moments ago. The hockey players come with helmets and sticks. The cheerleaders have pompoms and bows in their hair.
“Holy shit.” Mack chuckles when he finally gets to hold his own doll that has his number nineteen on its jersey. “This little guy looks exactly like me. Look, he even has blue eyes and his hair is a little blonder like mine always gets in the summer.”
“That isn’t the only accurate thing about these dolls.
” Vaughn is ignoring his own action figure doll, and he’s checking out two of the cheerleaders figurines.
“Look, these are supposed to be Talia and Taryn. They’re both blondes but Taryn’s eyes are green and Talia’s are blue.
And they even got their tits right. Taryn’s are three times the size of Talia’s. ”
I’m about to tell him to knock it off, but Tucker is faster than me and bends over to smack the back of our teammate’s head pretty hard.
It’s those goalie reaction times. If you weren’t paying attention, you’d miss Tucker’s swift movement.
But it’s impossible to miss the noise of the slap and Vaughn’s pained groan.
“Ouch!” He wails. “What the fuck was that for?”
“Have some fucking respect when you talk about my sister’s… figure. And my girlfriend’s.” He adds, lowering his voice so that only we can hear him in the crowded room.
“Dude!” Vaughn complains. “Don’t be like that. I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful, I was just stating facts. Despite the differences in the size of their tits, Talia and Taryn are both certifiable smoke shows.”
That was the wrong thing to say. Tucker leans over and grabs Vaughn by the front of his t-shirt, but wraps one arm around his neck to make it look like a friendly hug rather than the intimidating move it’s meant to be.
“Another word about their bodies, and I’ll make sure you’re going to leave camp with dentures, you asshole.”
Vaughn might be a cocky little shit more often than not, but he isn’t stupid; there’s legit fear in his eyes. “Ok, ok. You got it. Chill, Tuck. I didn’t mean it in a disrespectful way. I was just—”
“You aren’t allowed to look at them. Stay away from Taryn and, most of all, stay away from Talia. My sister is way too sweet for any of you dipshits.” His eyes skim over to Haller and Mack, too. “It’s bro-code 101. Your teammates’ sister is untouchable. Am I clear?”
Vaughn finally manages to escape Tucker’s hold. “Crystal. Fuck, dude. Chill. I swear I’ll pretend your sister doesn’t even exist. Happy now?”
Tucker’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes, making him look positively psychotic. “Ecstatic. You’re the only one on this team I wouldn’t have killed if you had been interested in my sister.” He whispers to me when he settles back in his seat.
“You don’t say.” I chuckle. “Talia is awesome. Whoever she’ll love one day is going to be one lucky guy.”
“The thing is,” Tucker muses. “There are so many fucking losers out there. It isn’t going to be easy to find someone worthy of her.”
He sounds dead serious and I can’t help but tease him a little. “You’re speaking like Talia will let you have a say on who she dates. If you hadn’t noticed, she’s an adult.”
Tucker rolls his eyes. “Oh believe me, I fucking know. Since she’s turned twenty-one, she’s been reminding me every time I’ve checked on her or given her any advice. But I’m her big brother, so it’s my job to look out for her. And to crush the bones of anyone who even tries to hurt her.”
“Dude, you sound fucking crazy.” Mack intervenes.
“Shut up, Shayba. You worry about your own fucking sister. I’m just trying to protect Tal from dogs like you.”
Mack’s wounded expression would be funny if Tucker didn’t have a point. “Me? What’s wrong with me? We’ve played hockey together for two years. You know I’m an upstanding guy.”
“Maybe before you ended things with Gen.” Tucker bites out. “But nowadays, you change girls more often than I change underwear.”
“Hey! There’s nothing wrong with having some fun when you’re single. And I guarantee you, I never make any promises I don’t intend to keep. It’s not like I make them believe I’m in love or anything. I’m upfront that I’m looking for no strings attached fun right now.”
Tucker nods. “Fine. Just have your fun away from my sister.”
“I never said anything about your sister. I was just pointing out that you’re a little too intense when it comes to her.”
“Yeah. Look at her with less than pure thoughts and I’ll show you how intense I can get.” Tucker slams his fist against his palm with another one of those scary smiles that don’t reach his eyes.
The sound of Coach’s whistle works like magic in reducing the entire room to silence.
“Alright.” Coach Harrison scowls at all of us. “Now that you’ve all had a look at the dolls, Carole and Lexi need your full attention.”
The hockey players are trained to obey Coach’s orders without discussion, but I guess his commanding presence has the same effect on the cheerleaders. Everyone settles back in their seats, eager to hear what else our coaching team has in store for us.
TARYN
Holding a doll that looks like me feels surreal. I feel like I’m a rockstar all of a sudden. “She’s so pretty.” I tell Jodie.
“It’s a nice doll.” My BFF agrees, taking it from me and checking it over. “But it doesn’t hold a candle to you, Tar. You’re way prettier.”
“Aww,” I hug her neck and kiss her. “You say that because you’re my best friend and you love me.”
Jodie insists. “I do love you. But I’m serious. You’re beautiful, inside and out.”