Chapter One

“Juliette? Would you mind reading this passage please?” Mr. Anderson, the school’s advance English literature teacher who was short, stubby, and bald, asked as Juliette looked away from the ticking clock, counting the seconds until sweet spring break starts.

“Of course!” Juliette said forcing a light chuckle before reading on of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy play, Romeo and Juliette. This has not been the first time her peers and mentors had reference her to the play. As she confidently read one line after another without failing the pronunciation, Juliette could not help but wonder if she would be able to have enough time to finish packing before spring break.

With only a few more hours left until spring break, Juliette kept packing and unpacking everything. Trying to think about what she wants to wear or how she would efficiently pack her suitcase so that she could bring more stuff with her. Although she was going nowhere particularly fun, because you know… she’s travelling from California to Wyoming… but it was a week of fun with her best friend and parental supervision of course.

“Alright class, I know we are excited for Friday to come but don’t forget you have an essay due at 11:59pm. No extensions will be allowed unless of course it is a serious emergency… Yes! I am looking at you all over there in the back row.” Mr. Anderson announced as Juliette looked over her shoulder to see the group in the back scoff as they rolled their eyes while everyone started packing their stuff up.

They were a year older than her, well everyone in this class is older than her. She managed to get into higher level courses with the hopes of early graduation. No one in her family every pushed these expectations for her, but Juliette always held herself to a high standard. So, whenever she sees ‘the real losers’, that’s what she calls people who never apply themselves to anything and just try to make their SoundCloud rap career blow up, she can’t help but wonder why they bother showing up to class where there are people who would kill to get an education.

“Hey Juliette, do you have a moment?” Mr. Anderson asked, stopping Juliette from going to cheer practice.

“Yeah, what’s up?” She asked tucking her short brown hair behind her ears.

“I was wondering if you would be interested in submitting some of the stuff you wrote for this class in some writing contests that I will be promoting soon. It comes with all different sorts of prizes such as a paid cruise for you and your family, a full ride scholarship to the school of your choosing, or ever a $10,000 cash prize to name a few. Of course, depending on what you are submitting the prizes for 1st place winners vary and you would have to keep in mind that everyone all over the country is also trying to submit something as well. But I think you have a real shot at winning something here.” Mr. Anderson explained as she perked with excitement.

“Of course, she does. Little miss perfect always does.” One of the kids from the back huffed as they walked on by.

“And you would too if you applied yourself to doing the essay due on Friday! I haven’t received anything from you yet!” Mr. Anderson called out as the student just walked out of the class. “Never mind him, are you in?”

“WHAT, of course! Thank you for letting me know. Do you mind sending me the contest entry through email please? I’m about to be late for cheer practice.” Juliette said in an apologetic tone.

“No problem and I would love to! Have an amazing spring break.” Mr. Anderson waved as Juliette made her way to the gymnasium. Growing up in California definitely had some of its perks such as having a school where you are not locked up in all day like a prisoner. Yeah, there were days where it was scorching hot and Juliette hated how the dress code would accommodate for not distracting the guys rather than for the weather.

“Hey Jules, there you are. Coach was wondering where you were.” A girl asked as she finished putting her long blonde hair into a ponytail. Her name is Victoria Lancaster, a senior that was known through out the school… especially with the boys. She was your typical cliché of a mean girl with the blonde hair and grossly blue eyes that looks into your soul. Always walking around with a resting bitch face, throwing parties, and putting others down while she’s trying to make up for whatever she’s in secure of. Last Juliette bothered paying attention to from the latest gossip was that her parents had a rather very nasty divorce.

“Any particular reason.” Juliette asked as Victoria shrugged her shoulders before purposely hitting her shoulder against her to start stretching for practice. “Alright I’ll go see.” She muttered as made her way to Mrs. Smith’s office in the corner of the girl’s locker room.

“Ah Juliette! Come in, come in!” Mrs. Smith welcomed as she stood from her chair and walked over to a box. “Before you say anything I need you to change into this.” She said giving Juliette a small package with white clothes inside.

“Oh no, no I can’t.” Juliette declined as her coach gently pushed her out of the office and into the changing room.

“Oh no.” “Vicky is not going to be happy.” “Isn’t she still a junior?” “Someone tell Vicky.” The murmurs of girls spread across awfully lit locker room as they saw Juliette with the white packaged clothes.

“Holy shit Jules.” Her friend, Hana, said as she hugged her. Hana Jetson, she was some character. She has the most beautiful, long, jet black hair and intimidating eyes that told people to not mess with her. Her and Juliette have been best friends since The Land Before Time was popular. The did everything together; first tooth pulled out, school dances, got boyfriends together, dumped them together, first periods together, literally everything. “I thought cheer captain was a seniority thing, but I guess it does matter if you’re good or not.” Cheer captain, to most, was a big deal. It meant everything for you, popularity, prom queen, homecoming dates, best seat on the bus, and more. That’s what Victoria wanted more in the world, but Juliette didn’t sign up for trying out as cheer captain mainly due to doing cheer for fun.

“I didn’t try out though.” Juliette said as she changed out of her school clothes and into the white uniform that was tailored just for her.

“You got to be fucking kidding me. COACH SMITH!” Victoria yelled as she heard all the commotion from outside the locker room and was curious to check.

“Awe did curiosity kill that cat? Or did satisfaction brought it back?” Hana asked as she tucked her black, shiny hair behind her ear.

“Victoria you better watch your language.” Mrs. Smith snapped as she left her office. “As for the rest of you girls you better get on out there, we need to have a team meeting.” The whispers of teen girls continued to echo around the gymnasium, gossiping as if this was the biggest thing to happen in their high school career.

“Alright now if you are new here and don’t know what the white uniform mean or need a refresher, then it means that Juliette Summers is the new cheer captain.” Mrs. Smith confirmed.

“You got to be kidding me. I did not spend the last three years for a junior to be cheer captain.” Victoria huffed as she crossed her arms.

“So what?” Hana asked as everyone’s eye widen by her questioning Victoria. “When have you ever encouraged us to keep going when we wanted to give up? When did you ever complimented our technique? When did you ever take the time to go through choreography when we needed help? Never. You never did anything to help us. Juliette is always there and on time.” The gym was silent for a long period of time before an uproar of cheers came from the rest of the girls as they chanted Juliette’s name.