The Last Cheer

I had no idea to know that the mere mention of a low point could instantly transport me somewhere darker, enough to impair my reflex to immediately correct the misunderstanding Dominic had walked away with.

I was probably making things out to be worse than they actually are, but not having heard from him for a full day and my calls going straight to voicemail wasn't a reassuring sign. I had two morning lectures that left me frustrated since I didn't manage to focus on much besides the thoughts in my head. My evening shift at the café was also beginning in a couple of hours, and since I can't sit still and study until then, I wandered aimlessly in the department corridors before I gave up and walked to the basketball field.

The team were having their afternoon training session with the sun overhead and the coach yelling left and right. I found a shaded spot a little away from the benches where the cheer team seemed to be practicing as well. While I was familiar with Dom's friends on the team, I didn't exactly like to be in the cheer's field of vision. That might be why I sat quietly and observed their drills, and maybe it was in order to delay the conversation as much as I can, considering that I haven't given it much thought.

It's not like I'm going to make much sense if I don't go into detail with Dominic about what actually happened, and I simply had no interest or intention to go there. I can't believe she put me in this situation. I brushed through my bangs and watched the guys practice. It was impossible not to notice Dominic with his towering six foot four and dirty blonde hair perfectly messy along with a face that half of SHU fell in love with. He's probably objectively the most handsome guy in town and he knows his own charm fairly well. It's always hard to match a good face with a good attitude -at least in my experience- which makes Dom a breath of fresh air when one gets to know him.

My view was suddenly obstructed, and I lifted my head just to be met with a face I was all too familiar with yet hoped to never see. I sighed and acknowledged her presence. "Alette."

She smiled her cheshire cat smile and cocked her head to the side. "Hi, Layla-

It took great effort not to roll my eyes. "It's Lilianne."

"Yes, whatever." She bruhsed it off and continued. "I see you've been watching the basketball practice."

"And?" I did away with all atempts of being cordial and waited for her to cut to the chase. I had a pretty strong knack as to what she wants. After all, it's not like it is the first time Alette approaches me since I started visiting the field. She can be impossibly persistent when she has something in mind, and unfortunately I entered her radar the moment Dominic and I became friends. Needless to say, it didn't take a genius to figure out her intentions. People like her didn't mix with the likes of little old me. Alette with the promising modelling career ahead of her with her pretty honey blonde hair and honey eyes to match it. She was cheer captain for a reason... Well, maybe she had enough talent for it actually, what do I know to comment on that? I felt like an impostor on every level imaginable.

"Oh nothing." She dismissed my less than friendly attitude and gave a sweet giggle. "I was just wondering if you're waiting up for Dominic."

"I am." I said shortly wishing she'd just leave me alone. She was drawing the cheer team's attention to us, and I could see some of them murmur and giggle within themselves. I looked around her to see the basketball practice coming to an end.

"So, are you two dating?" She asked suspiciously.

See, Alette was one of those people who thought they had a right to every person they'd laid eyes on. For two years now, I've watched her pursue many guys on the team, which, to each their own. That's not my issue. It began to become an issue for me when she decided Dominic was her next target and that nobody, including myself, had a right to rival her for his attention. Alette didn't understand the simple concept of friendship. "I don't see how that's any of your business frankly."

She caught my forearm, preventing me from walking away, her nails pinched into my skin painfully. I drew my arm back turning a glare towards her. "Listen girlie, I'm just being nice. Even if you're serious about him, I want to go after him and I'm going to. I was just giving you a heads up." She looked me up and down, throwing her hair back over her shoulder. "Not that going up against me could be fair, but what can you do?"

One has to admire her for the endless flow of confidence she possesses. I took a deep calming breath. "By all means, go ahead and do that." I eyed her back. "Let me give you a heads up too. Dominic doesn't tend to go for people like you."

"You bi-

"That's enough, Alette." The guy in question cut her temper tantrum short and stepped between us. I crossed my arms and watched their interaction closely. He sighed tiredly, his shirt was off and his skin glistened with sweat from the heat of the sun and their workout. His skin was a couple shades darker than usual from all the open air training they've been doing lately.

Alette gave him a sweet smile and ignored my existence. "Good job out there today. You guys are definitely ready to win."

"Thanks, I guess." Dom scratched the back of his head and gave her a curious look. "But Alette, please stop bothering my friend, yeah?"

She totally ignored the heart of his statement and flirtatiously put her hand on his bicep. I raised my eyebrow, wholly amused with the situation. "I will if we go on that date we talked about awhile ago?"

Dom stepped back from her touch, making her smile turn sour. I admired how she held her own still. "Alette, I told you I'm not interested." He scratched his head awkwardly, giving her an apologetic smile. "I'm afraid there won't be any dates. Not now or ever." He was too nice for his own damn good.

Alette deflated slowly. "I don't get it. I've never tried this hard for someone." She scowled up at him. "Are you gay or something?"

I couldn't help but burst into a fit of laughter, as Dom coughed violently. Oh my god, this girl was something else. Did she really ask him that to his face?

He shook his head after composing himself. "Just because I'm not interested in you doesn't mean I'm not interested in the female species. Please understand."

Alette stomped- yes stomped- her foot and glared at us, throwing a 'whatever' before disappearing back to where she came from.

I was still trying to suppress my smile when Dom turned to face me. "I'm glad you're finding enjoyment in this whole scenario."

I gave him a teasing smile. "Oh come on, you have to admit it was funny."

He shook his head before an awkward silence injected itself between us. The humour of the moment was long forgotten. I shuffled my backpack to the front. "Here." I fished out the bottle of electrolytes I'd gotten from the vending machine on my way. "I thought you might need this."

Dominic watched the extended bottle and then my hopeful face. I wished he'd just take it before we embark on what is bound to be an interesting conversation. Luckily he did, after sighing resignedly and walking back to the benches without a word.

I followed him and stood to the side as he rummaged through his bag for a towel and a protein bar. Knowing him, that was probably the closest thing to a meal he's had today. I looked away at the laughing groups of people while he wiped his skin. As usual, the minute his basketball mates noticed me, they came up to chat.

"Yo blondie!" Elijah, the tallest of the bunch, also the funniest, pat my head like a child. I did feel like child since they all towered over me. Despite the fact I wasn't even short to begin with, but what did I expect of being surrounded by basketball players. "Fancy seeing you here. You haven't been around for ages!"

"Hey Lily." Ben greeted politely. He was a lot more laid back, generally calmer and maturer when compared to the rest of the bunch. "It's been awhile."

I returned their greetings, but my focus had shifted back to a quiet Dominic lacing up his shoes.

"You haven't brought us any cupcakes?" Elijah investigated as he rounded me, as though I'd be hiding them behind my back.

I shook my head and Ben pulled him away by the back of his shirt. "Sorry about him."

I waved away his worries. "Sorry for not bringing anything today. My visit wasn't planned."

"You better be!" Elijah pouted. "We've been asking this dumbass to take us to the café where you work to see you but he refuses every time. I don't think I can survive any longer without your pastries."

Ben eyed Dom and I with a curious gaze. I suppose, unlike Elijah, he could read the unspoken tension that hasn't been diffused. He spoke in concern. "Is everything okay with you two?"

Elijah stopped whatever tangent he'd been on and looked back and forth between us, finally catching on. "Yeah, why are y'all acting awkward? Lovers' quarrel?"

Ben elbowed him and he grunted in pain, quickly apologizing. I couldn't answer their question really since I didn't know how to, but Ben seemed to understand. he gave me an encouraging smile before dragging Elijah away and leaving us alone.

"How mad are you on a scale of one to ten?" I took my bag off my shoulder and dropped it on the vacant spot beside his own.

He finally looked up and met my gaze, turning off his phone and throwing it inside the bag. "Try eleven."

Well, crap. I sat on the ground facing him and hugged my knees to my chest. "So totally pissed?"

"Don't get smart with me, Lily." He narrowed his eyes at me. "Cut straight to it."

I was hardly the best conversationalist out there. I felt sorry for myself for not knowing where to begin to articulate my thoughts, and also felt sorry for Dominic who will have to put up with a mediocre explanation.

"What was that about?" He finally asked. "I don't care what Maddie said. We were all high on anger and emotion. I can understand her, but you? You looked at me like you don't have an ounce of trust in me."

"No." I huffed, frustrated with myself. "That is not true. You know that! I trust you, Dom."

"It didn't seem that way to me." He replied dryly.

I recalled the argument in question, specifically Madeline's words. "It had nothing to do with you or anything you ever did. It's on me."

"Whatever that's supposed to mean." He gave me a bored look.

"It sounds pretentious, I'm aware." I decided to divulge a bit more in hopes that he won't question me about it. "Maddie was referring to something specific that happened a long time ago. Dominic, there's absolutely no need to dwell on it but... I was an idiot and I froze when she brought it up. I understand how you'd interpret it the wrong way-

"Don't be vague about this Lilianne. I'd greatly appreciate a clear and simple explanation." He pointed out, and I couldn't really blame him.

As much as I hoped I'd be able to get it off my chest when I first gathered the courage to come face him, I now felt my stomach twisting in knots and a dull aching in my chest. I took a deep breath and whispered. "She was referring to a past relationship of mine."