Chapter 13
A month later...
Skaii absentmindedly stroke her hair with her brush. She staring blankly ahead at herself in the mirror. It felt as if she was standing inconspicuously the world; like everything else was in color and she was printed in black and white.
Ever since that day, everything changed. She lost her sanity along with her sense of worth to any man.
"Do you think this shade suits me?" Melinda stared at herself in the mirror, with her lipstick poised in her hand and her lips puckered.
"Isn't that the only shade of lipstick you wear?" Emma glanced up from her heels to Melinda and frowned.
"No one f*cking asked you." Melinda dropped the violet lipstick on the table and turned to glare at Emma. "I'm really sick of you b*tch. I don't get why we have to sit together, I can't bear to see your face."
Emma rolled her eyes and stood, adjusting the straps on her white pencil-hemmed dress. "I just don't get it. You put on the same lipstick on and every time you do, you ask 'does this shade fit me?'. You're really annoying."
"What?" Melinda screeched while rushing towards Emma, with her hand in the air, ready to connect her face.
Skaii rushed over them.
"Hey!" She held onto Melinda's hand and pushed her back to where she was standing, before she reached to Emma. "Are you kidding me, seriously." Emma stared at Skaii incredulously, was she really sticking up for her?
"Skaii, didn't you hear what she said?" Kelly stood while pointing to Emma, defending her friend.
"I don't f*cking care what she said. Melinda is annoying, deal with it." Skaii snapped at her and then turned to look at Melinda. "We're suppose to be one unit, not some loud fillies that can't take a dis. You know better than to pick a fight while I'm here."
"Ever since she joined the squad, you're not the same, that uptight attitude of hers is blinding you. Can't you see she's acting like she's better than us. I sure as hell don't like her." Melinda huffed, Emma started to shoot daggers in her direction.
"Well, I don't really give a f*ck who you like or don't like. It's Christmas people, the season to be jolly!" She signed inwardly, if only that was true for her. "What? Stop looking at me and get ready." Skaii snapped at them.
After that, the dressing room fell silent and everyone went to resume their preparation for the winter dance that was held in the school's gym.
It was an annual event and Skaii was always in attendance; she wasn't going to allow what happened to her stop her from attending.
It had been a tradition for years, to have the cheerleaders sitting together. They always did a performance at the end of the night. That's why Skaii forced herself to tolerate Kelly and Melinda's behavior.
She shook her head and went to get her dress on. Sheer white rayon challis (a soft type of material) dominated the designer made dress.
It fitted perfectly to her curves and flat belly. White and gold studs embroidered from the left shoulder to the left hip. The hem possessed gold streaks and was gathered in a flaring mermaid design at her ankle.
She topped off her outfit with a gold stiletto and gold earrings and bracelet.
Luckily, her mother had bought that dress for her months ago; she doubt she would've gotten it after that slap.
She frowned and turned to take her purse from her handbag. "Let's go you guys, we were already late to begin with."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Everyone cheered as the speaker announcement that someone was going to sing a song.
Skaii was waiting in anticipation, for the person to appear on the stage.
It has been a good twelve months since she saw a live performance, she hoped it was good.
When a girl and the boy made their way on stage, the crowd erupted in applause.
"Good night everyone, I'm Carissa Valentino and this is my brother, Adam Valentino." The girl introduced as she took the mic.
"Hi Adam!" The girls shouted. Carissa laughed and scratched her forehead. The boy raised his hand acknowledging everyone.
Then as he laid eyes on Skaii, he began smiling.
"We aren't from your school but our dad told us about this dance tonight, so we have decided to sing a song for you, I hope you enjoy it." Carissa said.
The DJ started the rhythm and on cue she began singing.
I've got fire for a heart
I'm not scared of the dark
You've never seen seen it look so easy.
I've got a river for soul and baby you're a boat
Baby, you're my only reason
Adam rose to the mic to his lips.
If I didn't have you there'd be nothing left
The crowd started to cheer when Adam began his line.
The shell of a man who could never be his best
If I never had you I'd never see the sun
You taught me how to be someone.
Yeah
He began fisting the air with his free hand.
All my life you stood by me
When no one else was never behind me.
All these lights, they can't blind me
With your love, nobody can't drag me,
His sister joined in with the chorus and blending their voices smoothly together.
All my life you stood by me
When no one else was never behind me. All these lights, they can't blind me
With your love, nobody can't drag me down.
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can't drag me down
Nobody can't drag me...
Down.
Carissa walked off the stage and down to a table full of boys and bended over to the guy nearest to her.
I've got fire for a heart
I'm not scared of the dark
You've never seen seen it look so easy.
I've got a river for soul and baby you're a boat
Baby, you're my only reason
She winked at the boy and he held onto his chest like he was having a heart attack. Carissa laughed and went to join Adam back on stage.
He started singing and looked down in crowd, silently begging Skaii to look up at him. When she did, he locked her in his gaze.
The way he sang this time felt different, it's like he was only singing for her, even though everyone else could hear it.
Who was that girl? He thought.
He continued singing with his eyes locked to hers.
All my life you stood by me
When no one else was never behind me. All these lights, they can't blind me
With your love, nobody can't drag me down.
That was some performance. The whole gym echoed in applaud. They clapped, screamed and whistled. Some were belting out Adam's name. Carissa couldn't help it, she laughed at her brother's newly weaved fan club.
"Thank you Carissa and Adam. One Direction has nothing on you." The speaker joked as she took the mics from them.
Skaii looked away from Adam, hoping to ignore his stare. Thankfully when he went off stage, he was lost in the crowd.
"Now, ladies and gents, guess who's back?" She said with a smile, everyone bewilderedly searched around the gym. "I'm not talking literally guys. Now this girl has been in recovery for more than a month. When I heard she was injured, I felt like my world was going to end. But now she's as good as new. She's your cheer captain people, who has lead you to win nationals more times than anyone ever did. Ladies and gentlemen, Skaii Holder is back with her cheerleaders and ready to rock your world with the last performance of the night!"
The bright spotlight settled on Skaii.
"We love you Skaii!" Some girls shouted from the back.
"Skaii, I wanna have your babies!" Skaii laughed and shook her head.
"Brace yourself children." The speaker mysteriously into the microphone one last time as Jake and the guys stood and walked up to the space prepared for them. The girls quickly took their shoes off and joined the boys on the dance floor.
They formed a pyramid, Skaii stood at the point.
"Trinity seniors and juniors let me hear you make some noise!" Skaii shouted with her hands at the side of her mouth. "Are you ready?"
Unsatisfied with the response, Skaii shouted again, "I said are you ready people?"
"Yes!" They screamed.
She smiled and went into her cheer stance.
"Alright, Trinity." She breathed out before clapping three times.
In unison they an high V with their hands, then a low V and bended with their hands crossed in their laps. They repeated those moves once and quickly transformed themselves into three lines, six in each.
On cue, the DJ started to play a different song. They launched into their jump sequence.
And Skaii piked and ran off stage.
She had never planned to finish the routine with them, just the intro. Her dress was way too tall to dance in.
She went to sit at her table and watched them as they performed their routine.
She was rocking side to side in her seat and clapping until she felt someone standing over her. She paused and looked up.
Adam was pretending to be looking undivided at the performance. A knowing smile crept up on her face.
This man was determined.
"Skaii Holder." He looked over to her and continued. "I've heard so much about you."
Because the speaker just talked about her.
She laughed at that.
"Adam, hey what's up?" She casually asked.
"What's up is that I feel like I'm in the presence of royalty. I doubt I'm going to regret coming here tonight." He turned to face her directly.