CHAPTER 8: THE COMPETITION

AT THE CAFETERIA

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Jordan had arrived at the cafeteria before Kylee had. She waved and came over to him. "Hey, sorry I'm late."

"It's cool." Jordan waved it off and took a bite of his sandwich. "So what's up?"

"You are about to find out." Kylee said with a slight smile. "May I borrow this table?"

"Sure, no problem." Jordan took her hand as he helped her get on the table. "Everyone!"

Jordan called out in a very loud voice to get everyone's attention, which he did. "Kylee has an announcement to make."

"Thanks, Jordan." she tells him. The cafeteria was silent, waiting for Kylee to talk. "Good day everyone!" Kylee began. "It's with great joy and pleasure that I officially inform you all that the school management has finally given it's permission for the creation of Crown High's very own cheerleading team! Auditions will begin two weeks from now." Kylee announced as the cafeteria was immediately thrown into celebration.

"And who is going to be team captain? You?" Jazz asked in a very loud voice causing everyone to stop what they were doing.

"I might just be." she said confidently. "But don't worry, Jazz. I'll give you a chance to try and beat me. We'll let the students decide who they want." Kylee turned back to the crowd. "Come next week, every girl here will be given the chance to vote for captain. Either me or Jazz. May the best girl win."

Jazz couldn't help but boile in anger as everyone kept screaming and cheering Kylee's name.

AFTER SCHOOL

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"Hey, Jordan." Kylee called out to him as he was about walking away after speaking to Mr. Bryson.

"Hey, thought you left already." Jordan said, surprised to see her.

"No, I'm still here. But I wanted to ask if you could help me out with the competition. Please?"

"Well, Miss Westen, I'll give you an answer to your question but you have to come with me first."

Jordan replied.

"Where to?" Kylee asked, looking curious.

"It's a surprise." Jordan took her hand as he lead her out of the school building and straight to the parking lot.

They both arrived at the parking lot where Diego had been waiting for Kylee.

"Oh! Diego! Sorry for keeping you waiting." Jordan looked a bit confused. "Jordan, this is my personal driver, Diego. Diego, this is my friend Jordan."

"Nice to meet you." Jordan said as he shook Diego's hand.

"Diego, I'll be hanging out with Jordan for a while. I'll call you when I am ready to go home."

"Okay, K. Stay safe." Diego replied with a smile as he entered the car, driving off.

"Come on." Jordan said.

BIG JOE'S PRINTS

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Jordan's car finally came to a stop as he pulled up in front of a printing shop. Kylee needed no one to tell her that the owner's name was big Joe as it was already written on the sign.

"Why are we here, Jordan? Kylee couldn't help but ask as she stepped out of the car.

"Well, you are about to find out."

Jordan took her hand and lead her into the shop.

"Kylee's jaw's dropped as soon as she stepped in. She wasn't expecting to see Ruby, Mark and Jane.

"Oh my God Guy's! What's all this?" Kylee asked with her hands on her month. She couldn't help the smile from coming out.

"Well we are all preparing for your competition next week."

Mark announced, flagging one of the posters they made for Kylee up in the air.

"Awww, that's so sweet guys, thanks so much!" Kylee said, smiling.

"Don't thank us, Kylee." Jane said quickly. "Thank Jordan, it's all his idea."

"Well what can I say." Jordan rubbed the back of his head as Kylee gave him a big hug.

Kylee nevered expected Jordan to help her in this way, without even asking.

"When you guys are done hugging, feel free to lend a hand." Ruby said as they all laughed.

Kylee quickly pulls her hair into a ponytail before joining Jordan and the others in arranging the posters into the boxes.

After an hour of packing the posters, they were all ready to head back to Crown High to put them up.

"Is this the last one?" Jordan asked as he placed the last box of posters in his car trunk.

"Yep, that's all of them." Mark says as he joins the others inside the car.

"Hope everyone is ready, cause it's going to be a long day." Jordan said laughing as he starts the car.

CROWN HIGH

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It didn't take too long before they arrived at crown high.

Jordan and Mark each carried three boxes while Kylee and the girls carried one each.

"It took you guys forever!" Prince- Ruby's brother- called out as soon as he saw them coming.

He quickly took the tree boxes from Mark.

"Okay, guys let's begin." Jordan said as he starts dividing the boxes equally among the group.

"Ruby and Mark will take the east wing, Prince and Jane will take North while myself and Kylee will take the south wing then we all meet here when we are done to fix the cafeteria. Hope that's okay with everyone?"

"Yep!" They all answer together.

Everyone headed off to their designated areas.

"So, how is your stay here? Hope it has been less frustrating?" Jordan asks, laughing as Kylee hands a poster to him.

"Well, thanks to you guys, I'm kinda liking it here." She replied with a smile. "Who could have ever thought that a backward town like Northwell can ever have amazing kids like you guys."

"Well, as they say, big things come in small packages."

The pair continue to work until their boxes are empty.

"Finally, we are done here." Kylee bends down to grab the empty boxes on the floor which cause a few strings of her hair to get loose from the ponytail.

"Hey, wait a minute." Jordan whispers as he slowly moves the air from her face, fixing It back to the ponytail. The motion causes them to stare into each other's eyes deeply for a long time.

"It's 8:00pm already. Are we going to go home or are you both going to keep staring at each other?" Jane asks, looking so tired and exhausted.

They quickly break away from each other's gaze before the others arrive. Kylee didn't know why but she couldn't stop smiling even after walking away from Jordan.

Diego was waiting outside for her already.

"It's late, Kylee. Nina said to come get you." Diego said as he opens the back door of the car for Kylee to get in.

"Thanks again guys. I really appreciate it. See you all tomorrow." Kylee waved goodbye before entering the car.

Jordan waved back and watched as the car pulled out of the parking lot. He knew he was beginning to sprout strong feelings for Kylee.