Filed to story: Lily Bennett and Mason Cooper Book
“Lily’s giving up cheer,” Ava announces.
“You are?” he asks, looking at me with a small frown.
“Apparently, she hates it and only did it for her mom,” she answers for me.
“I’m only dropping cheer. I’m not dropping track and field or volleyball,” I say with an eye roll.
“It’s really not such a big deal.”
“Fair enough then,” Harry nods, holding out his fist.
I give it a bump, thankful for the lack of judgment.
My morning classes go by fairly quickly, thankfully.
But in every single class and between classes, at least five different people ask me if I’m really quitting cheer and if me and Olly actually broke up.
By lunchtime, I feel like I’m going to snap if another person asks me the same fucking questions.
Harry and I walk to the cafeteria together, and as expected, he goes straight for the table full of the usual footballers and cheerleaders.
And then I see him for the first time-Olly’s sitting at the far end of the table, laughing at something one of his friends said.
He looks up, and for a moment, our eyes meet.
It’s like he almost nods for me to join out of habit, then remembers.
I feel frozen.
Before I can figure out what to do, Leah slides into the seat beside him, her arm instantly looping through his like she’s claiming him for the whole cafeteria to see.
Her hair’s perfectly curled and she has on bright pink lip gloss.
I bet she spent like two hours getting ready for her big debut.
She notices Olly is looking at me.
She whispers something in his ear that makes him smirk.
No doubt it was about me.
I turn away before they see my cheeks turn red.
I go to sit at a two-person table, hoping like fuck Ava sits by me.
I pull out my lunch and phone to text her but see I have a text from her already saying she’s on her way.
“I still can’t believe Leah took his side,” Ava scowls, looking over to the table in the middle as she sits down across from me.
“There’s no side to take, Ava. You can go sit with them if you want,” I sigh, looking over and seeing Leah laughing at something Olly just said.
“You know I’m here for you. If you ever need a shoulder to cry on,” Ava offers, squeezing my hand.
“Thanks. But I’m actually feeling fine,” I fake-smile.
“What happened, Lil?” she asks, giving me her perfected puppy-dog eyes.
“It just wasn’t going to work,” I shake my head, wanting to tell her about Mason.
“Will you tell me one day?” She sighs, picking at her food.
“One day,” I agree, knowing I probably never will.
It’s too embarrassing.
My afternoon classes are pretty much just like my mornings until I get to last period.
Gym.
The girls are chatting and the guys are goofing around as we wait for Coach Burns, the PE teacher, to start class.
But it all fades the moment I see Coach Lindsey heading straight for me.
Her expression isn’t angry, exactly-it’s more concerned.
“Lily,” she says, stopping me near the bleachers.
Her voice is firm, but not harsh.
“Is it true? Are you quitting the team?”
I sigh, already tired of this conversation.
“I just don’t want to cheer anymore.”
Coach Lindsey frowns, crossing her arms.
“You’re meant to be the captain, Lily. You’ve worked so hard for this.”
“Make Anastasia captain. She deserves it.”
Her voice softens.
“What’s going on? You’re not quitting because of that Kingsley boy, are you?”
“No, of course not.” I snort and roll my eyes, even though I can feel some tears building.
She hesitates, studying me closely.
Before she can say anything more, Coach Burns yells for us to get outside for our warm-up laps.
“I have to go,” I say, turning away quickly.
“Think about it, okay?” she calls after me.
“I already have.”
“Don’t listen to Lindsey,” Harry says, dropping his arm over my shoulder as we walk toward the track.
“You do you.”
A mountain of a man walks up.
This is Jock-yes, that’s his real name.
He whistles lowly.
“Harry, did you hear that Mason has gotten in mad shape this summer?” Jock says, looking at me like he’s surprised to see me.
“Hey, squirt. How long have you been there?” He smiles.
“Don’t call me that,” I snap, wanting them to keep talking about Mason.
“Who said that?” Harry asks.
“I can’t see him getting into shape. He doesn’t even take games seriously.” Harry shakes his head.
“He doesn’t?” I ask, surprised.
“No. He’s always joking around-even his team gets annoyed at him,” Harry answers.
“But we’re still gonna destroy him either way. I fucking hate that guy.”
I glance at Harry-he almost never looks this angry.
He really does want to destroy Mason.
? ? ?
“Mom! I’m home!” I call out, dropping my keys onto the side table and dumping my bag.