Both Paxton and Mr. Ewing hiss in disgust.
“Make your way there after,” Mr. Ewing barks out. “Anderson, let’s go.”
As they walk off, Penny flips them off and sits. “You bitches miss me?”
“You’re certainly entertaining,” I agree. “We had that idiot handled.”
Penny shrugs. “Who said I was defending you? Maybe I just wanted to fuck with him.”
Someone approaches and the three of us turn to see who our new visitor could possibly be. Ugh. Heidi. That girl is going to drive me insane with her typical high school diva attitude.
“The world is not flat,” Penny says to Heidi. “I told you this, Helga. Haven’t you ever seen a globe?”
Heidi blinks at her in confusion and then scowls at her. “It’s Heidi.”
“World’s still round,” Penny replies.
“Whatever, weirdo. I came to talk to her.” Heidi points a purple fingernail at me, anger flaring in her hazel eyes. “Everyone knows you’re fucking Cal Hutton. Plus, my friend Olivia overheard you two talking.”
“Even if I was, which I’m not,” I grind out, “I wouldn’t tell you because it’s not your business.”
Heidi flicks her dark hair over her shoulder in a comical way, reminding me of every bad cliché teenage movie. “It’s my business because I rule this school. What I say goes.”
“Like the mafia?” Penny deadpans. “Are you a mob boss, Helen?”
Heidi’s face turns as purple as her nails. “It’s Heidi, dumbass. And no, I am royalty—”
“Technically, I’m the queen,” Tierra pipes up, her sleek black ponytail flinging back and forth as she lets it be known. “Fight me on this.”
“She did already claim this title,” I agree, smirking at the furious cheerleader.
“Shut up,” Heidi snarls. “You’re just a skanky has-been trying to pretend she didn’t fuck up her senior year. Newsflash, Charlotte, you’re not cool anymore. I’m the head cheerleader now. I’m the bitch in charge.”
“You got the bitch part right,” Penny says, smiling sweetly at her.
“You’ve messed with the wrong chick,” Heidi snaps at me, ignoring my sister. “When Cal gets tired of fucking your saggy vagina, he’ll wise up.”
Tierra cackles. “This cheerleader monster act is because you want to bone my cousin? No fucking way!”
Once again, Heidi frowns in confusion. “He’s not your cousin.”
“Because he’s white?” Tierra demands, pinning her with a challenging glare.
Heidi opens and closes her mouth, looking every bit a fish out of water. Finally, she regains her composure, turning her glare to me. “Stay low, on the bottom of the food chain here, and I’ll leave you be, skanky bitch.”
“Awfully threatened by a skanky bitch,” I say, arching a brow. “It’s almost like you’re terrified I’ll take the boy you like and your position on the squad.”
Her hazel eyes narrow. “You wouldn’t dare try out. Not after how you were such a disgrace last year. The girls on the squad hate you.”
“Coach Jenner loves me, though,” I tell her with a vicious grin. “See you at practice, friend.”
“Bye, Heidi Ho,” Penny says, waving at her. “We’re done here.”
Coach Jenner studies me for a beat before sighing. “You had me worried, kiddo.”
I chew on my bottom lip, keeping all those sad emotions at bay. Now’s not the time. I swallow them down and then smile. “I had me worried, but I’m better, Coach. I know I don’t deserve to try out, but I want to.”
“Is this about Heidi?” she asks, frowning. “She stopped by after lunch and said you were bullying her.”
I raise both brows. “Do you honestly believe that?”
“No,” Coach admits. “Which is why I told her if you wanted to try out, you could. I just don’t want you doing this for the wrong reasons.”
“I mean,” I mutter, “it would feel good to see her squirm, especially after how rude she’s been to me, but that’s not it. After ruining last year, I just want to right all my wrongs. I loved being on the squad. It’s good exercise and looks good for college.”
“There’s my girl,” Coach says with a smile. “If that’s what you want, grab a change of clothes from the extras and let’s head out to the gym. Cheerleading takes continuous practice. You’ve been out of practice for a year. I’m not promising a spot, just an opportunity to try.”
I’m thankful the rehab facility not only had an awesome gym, but personal trainers as well. All of my muscle tone I may have lost during my time with Ryan was regained after a couple of months of hard work and focusing on my health again.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I agree. “My dad always taught us to work hard for what we want. I want this.”
Ten minutes later, I’m changed into a tiny pair of black shorts and orange sports bra. I’ve pulled my hair into a black ponytail holder and threw back on my tennis shoes without socks. Not exactly the best outfit to try out in, but it’s all I have. We head into the gym and I spend the next twenty minutes warming up and stretching.
I mull over some of the cheers I came up with when I was on the squad, planning what I will show her. Once I scoop up some poms, I affix a grin on my face and lift my chin.
“Ready?” I call out in a loud, peppy tone, “Okay!”
The next several minutes, I run through three back to back cheers. I’m sweating and my muscles are aching, but it feels good. Like this phoenix is stretching her wings, ready to take flight.
“Excellent form,” Coach praises. “Still a big mouth, I see.”
I blush thinking about just how big my mouth is to be able to give Cal head. Gah. Not the time to be thinking about that man’s pierced dick.
“How about you show me if you can still tumble? Don’t break your neck, English.”
Laughing, I bounce, making sure to let my ponytail dance from side to side with each choreographed sway of my hips.
