8.

After that night at the frat house, I should've ended it. I should've never gone back to practice the following week.

I should've closed that book.

But a power bigger than myself was drawing me to cheerlead. Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I knew I couldn't stop - I had to do this, for Sam, for us.

And so that's when changes really began to surface.

Sam didn't question me further after I told him I lost track of time at the library - it was the best lie I could think of, because he knew that I often overstayed there and studied. At first he was a little hesitant to accept it, given how late I got in; but he thankfully dropped the subject, and I was glad. I hated lying to him - I never used to before. I was a damn bad liar, and Sam didn't deserve this. But I reassured myself that I was still doing the right thing, for him. I couldn't tell him about cheerleading, not yet. Not until I was more integrated into the group, and not until games would start so that I'd have the chance to possibly perform in front of him. I hadn't even thought of how I would get him to attend one of those - Sam hadn't once watched a game of football, and I'm pretty sure he couldn't even name a team. Neither could I, but then again, as long as it wasn't a requirement to know what was actually happening, I stuck to simply supporting the players, and whatever else cheerleaders did to occupy half times and whatnot. Who was I kidding? I was completely clueless about this stuff - I knew exactly who I should ask about these sort of things, but I was afraid to face him again. Part of me knew that I eventually would since that night at the party, when I found out that he was on the team. I felt almost disgusted with the idea that in a couple of weeks I'd be forced to cheer him on, or interact with him during the games - but again, I was doing this for Sam, and I had to realise where my priorities lay. If running into Theo more often than necessary was going to earn me the attention I wanted from my boyfriend, then so be it.

In the end, I ended up running into Theo for the attention I wanted, from a boy who wasn't mine.

Yasmine had been missing the last two practices. I found this odd, since she seemed to be a main figure on the team - but I couldn't say that I wasn't pleased with her sudden absence. Mia spoke few words to me here and there, but her loyalties lay with the rest of the team, and I was still considered an outsider. My lack of experience didn't help - I was in no way, shape or form the desirable weight and appearance, and my lack of flexibility became prominent.

On the fourth time at practice, I decided to somewhat change that. I couldn't have the other girls think I wasn't taking this seriously, because favouritism was a big thing amongst them, and the coach too. I had to make a good impression, and I had to catch up in my own time on what I'd missed. And so, after the girls changed quickly and left to go home, or perhaps to another party in the middle of the week, I pulled some yoga pants over my legs and put my earphones in, and began practising the routine that we had been working on all week. As the song grows quieter indicating the start of a new one, I hear a light chuckle behind me and freeze over.

Not this again.

"Don't let me stop you," he continued laughing, as he leaned against the post on his side, intent on catching my every move.

"What do you want Theo?" I shoot back, and instantly regret saying his name out loud, knowing I'm going to receive crap about it for the remainder of the conversation. As if he was reading my mind, his lips pull into a smirk, and he unfolds his arms from over his chest and begins walking towards me.

"I see you researched me. What else do you happen to know, while we're at it?"

"I didn't, actually. I was simply told. Trust me, I don't spend longer thinking about you than I have to."

Shit.

"You think about me?" Theo presses, and his grin is the size of this fucking pitch.

"N-no. I just meant -"

"It's okay, Dove. Who wouldn't?"

"You remembered my name?" I ask, quite shocked, and desperately trying to switch the topic. It's not very common, and so I'm constantly having to remind people. This took me by surprise.

"It's very odd, kind of hard to forget," he counters, and I roll my eyes at this remark.

That doesn't even make any sense.

"You're one to talk," I smile slightly, and turn my head so that he couldn't catch a glimpse of it.

"On the contrary, my name is actually very common. Where I'm from, anyway."

"England, you mean?"

"You're a curious one, aren't you?" He huffs, but a smile remains evident on his lips.

"Well the accent sort of gave it away ..."

Wait, why am I actually engaging in conversation with him right now?

"So tell me, Dove," he pauses for a second, and looks me over with a hint of pleasure in his eyes. "You're really taking this whole cheerleading thing seriously, huh?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but,"

"Yeah, yeah. The whole 'it's none of your business' speech. Just like it wasn't any of my business that you have a boyfriend? Spare me."

He asked me the question!

"Exactly. And if you're going to be a dick, then just leave. I don't need to be distracted - I have a lot to catch up on."

"I can see that," he agrees with me, shattering the small amount of confidence I had left.

Before I could respond, he moved closer and his hand reached up to cup my cheek - such a small gesture of affection, but I became putty under his touch. I wanted to flinch, but it's like my body wouldn't allow it.

It just felt so good.

"Am I a distraction to you?"