Dare to Be Different (23 page)

“This is going to be such a fun day. You’re still going to come, right, Mom?”

“Of course, honey. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ll be at the school by one thirty to get a good seat. Now, you’d better eat something and get ready to go before you’re late. Where’s your sister?”

“Dani says she doesn’t feel good. She’s dressed, but she says she isn’t going to school.”

“What? Really? I’d better go check on her.” Mom left in a hurry to check on her daughter. She was sure that illness wasn’t really Dani’s problem.

A few minutes later, Dani and her mom were
walking into the kitchen, smiling. Whatever had been ailing Dani must have passed, because she looked just fine to Drew. “You ready, sis? Big day today. We need to go.” Drew was so excited she could hardly contain her energy.

Drew spent a few minutes talking with Trevor in the hallway before first period. But just as quickly as they had started chatting, the bell rang, signaling that they had two minutes to be in their seats for their first class. “Oops, better run. I’ll catch you at the pep rally later.”

“You bet,” Drew said. “See you then.” They turned and ran off in separate directions to their classes. They didn’t share any classes because they were two years apart. They did luck out and get the same lunch hour, though. But Drew wouldn’t see Trevor for lunch that day because the football team was having a pre-rally meeting. So she was on her own until later. Racing through the hall to get to her class, Drew could tell that the other girls were looking at her with envy, and the boys were looking her up and down, checking out how she looked in her cheerleading uniform. This had to be the best day ever.

“Hey, Drew. How’s it going?” Sam, one of
the varsity cheerleaders she met at The Grill last Friday night, slid into the seat next to her just before the bell rang. They had their homeroom class first, which was the perfect time to finish up homework from the day before, study for any tests or quizzes that would be given that day, or to quietly chitchat with a neighbor. But that day, Drew was too riled up to settle down to school-work, so she welcomed Sam’s company.

“I’m great. You ready for the pep rally?” Drew asked

“Oh yeah, it’s going to be so cool. You look great today, by the way.” When Drew thanked her, she continued. “So, I hear you and Trevor have become a hot item.”

“News travels fast, doesn’t it?”

“So it’s true? You’re together now?” Sam seemed impressed.

“I suppose so. He’s asked me out on a date, and he wants to hang out all of the time. I don’t know that I would say that anything is official, though.”

“What a major development for freshman year. Way to go.”

Drew, proud of herself but wanting to stay cool, answered, “Well, we’ll see. He still has to
pass a few tests.”

“Are you kidding me? He’s perfect. What tests could you possibly be talking about?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I haven’t thought of them yet.” Drew laughed at her admission. “I’m pretty much kidding. He is kind of perfect, isn’t he?” The girls dissolved into fits of giggles until their teacher reminded them to keep it down.

The cheerleading coach was grinning from ear to ear as she got her squads ready for the pep rally. “Girls, this is going to be a phenomenal year. It’s one of those times when everything has just fallen into place and it makes magic. Our football teams are so talented and stand a great chance of making it to the championships, the cheerleading squads are the most talented and creative teams I’ve ever had the privilege of coaching, and the school and community are energized and behind us like never before. That gymnasium is packed with people from throughout the community who have come here today to soak in
your
spirit. You girls, more than anyone else, drive the energy and the spirit that supports our teams and our schools. You need to go out there today with nothing on your mind other than getting energy
from that crowd. Are you ready, girls?”

Every girl let out a shout of excitement, each one ready to not only raise school spirit but also to soak it in from the crowd. Drew’s heart was beating so fast; she was eager but nervous.

Finally, the double doors to the gym opened, and the cheerleaders were introduced first. The JV team was brought out before the varsity team. Each girl was introduced by name, at which time she would come into the gym, running the length of the gym floor, shaking her pom-poms and waving to the crowds in the bleachers that lined both sides of the gym. One by one, each girl had her moment to shine in front of the crowd. Drew was introduced last for her team. “And last, but certainly not least, we want you to meet our junior varsity squad captain, Drew Daniels!”

When she heard her name, Drew took off running toward the middle of the gym floor, did a round-off, a back flip, and then turned and waved her pom-poms at the crowd with a big grin on her face. She was a natural, and the crowd loved her energy and her big, beautiful smile. She soaked it all in and then jogged over to the side where her team was lined up.

The varsity team was introduced in the
same way, and those cheerleaders lined up on the other side of the gymnasium. The two teams formed two parallel lines and waited for the big moment—the entrance of the football team. Each player was introduced, and they ran through the lines of cheerleaders to the sounds of cheering, shouting, jumping, and bouncing. The players really seemed buoyed by the experience, and the crowd loved every second of it.

When the introductions were over, the band played the school song and the cheerleaders got into formation and did their signature dance and cheer. The crowd went wild.

In the stands, Dani was sitting with her mom and dad. They were thoroughly enjoying themselves and cheering right along with the rest of the crowd.

“I really had no idea it would be like this,” Mrs. Daniels said. “Drew is going to have so many great high school memories if she sticks with this.” Mrs. Daniels snapped picture after picture of the celebration.

“Oh, believe me, she’ll be sticking with it.” Dani wondered if her mom would be so excited for Drew if she knew how serious Drew was getting about a boy—the captain of the football
team, no less. Somehow, she doubted it.

Drew and her team moved to the sidelines and cheered as the coaches were introduced. Trevor came to stand by her while the coaches gave rousing speeches meant to continue stirring the crowd. Trevor and Drew stood together and looked comfortable together, like they had known each other for a long time. Dani wondered if her parents were noticing, but she was afraid to look for fear of drawing attention to the couple.

But when Trevor leaned down to whisper something in Drew’s ear, Dani couldn’t stand it any longer. She tried to look out of the corner of her eye at her mom. Dani’s mom slowly lowered the camera to her lap, and she leaned forward a bit. Her mouth was slightly open, and her eyes were wide in surprise. She nudged her husband, nodded toward the scene she was witnessing, and raised her eyebrows in question, wondering if he saw the same thing she did.

“Dani, who is that boy your sister is talking to?” Mom asked.

“That’s Trevor Jaymes. He’s the captain of the football team.”

“Oh, he’s the boy who called the other day, isn’t he?” Mr. Daniels asked.

“Is he a freshman, too?” Mrs. Daniels hoped so, even though it was clear that he was not.

“No, he’s a junior, Mom. He’s a nice guy, though.”

“I’m sure he is.…” Mrs. Daniels didn’t ask any further questions at that time, but Dani knew that they would stew in her head and she would have a lot to ask Drew later. Dani hoped she wouldn’t be around for that conversation.

Down on the floor, Trevor was asking Drew if she wanted to be his girlfriend. He understood that with their schedules there wouldn’t be much time for actual dates; but they would have a lot of time together due to their athletic activities, and they would fit private dates in wherever they could.

Drew beamed with pride and excitement. “Of course I want to be your girlfriend, Trevor. I really like being with you, and I think this year is going to be a blast.”

“Great. It’s settled then.” As a joke, he held up his hand for a high five.

She laughed and slapped his hand with a flourish. She was glad he didn’t try to seal the deal with a kiss or something. That was definitely not something she wanted to experience for the
first time on a crowded gym floor in front of hundreds of people—including her parents.

It was six o’clock before Drew got home after practice that evening. She was eager to hear what her family had to say about the rally. It had been way too crowded and noisy to try to find them to chat after the rally was over, but she was sure they’d have a lot to say now. She was also a little nervous to find out if her parents had seen anything when she and Trevor were talking on the sidelines. Maybe it would be a good thing, a way to ease them into the idea. She knew, though, that she’d have to be careful how hard she pushed them at first. They would need time to get used to the idea.

“Hi, everyone, I’m home!” Drew announced as she walked into the house after practice. When she arrived at the entryway to the kitchen, she said, “Wow, Mom. It smells so good in here. I’m completely famished.”

“I figured you would be. I made your favorite—manicotti and garlic bread.”

“Oh, that’s awesome. Let’s eat!”

Over dinner, they were abuzz about the day’s goings-on. “Drew, I have to tell you, I was
so proud of you today. I’m so excited for the experience you’re going to have in high school.” Mom beamed.

“Me, too,” Dad said. “I had a good time at the rally, and I think it’s wonderful how much school spirit and support is behind your teams. It’s inspiring. I’m still not thrilled with those short skirts,” he admitted. “But you did look great out there—a real natural.”

“Thanks, you guys. I can’t believe how much fun I’m having with it all. I really feel like I’m doing what I was meant to be doing right now.”

“That much is clear.” Mom paused to take a drink of her milk to wash down her food. “There’s something else that was clear, too.”

Drew groaned inwardly, knowing what was coming. “What’s that, Mom?” She feigned innocence.

“It’s pretty clear that you and that boy we saw you with have a bit of a crush on each other.”

“Who? Trevor?” Drew tried to act shocked, but her mom wasn’t buying it.

“You know who I mean. That dreamy boy who was talking to you like there was no one else around. What’s the deal there?”

“Well, I guess a crush is a good way to put it. You know how it goes, captain of the football
team and cheerleading captain—it’s kind of a natural thing.”

“It may very well be,” her mom said, “but you are quite a bit younger than him. You aren’t ready for a relationship like he may be.”

Drew shot her sister a look, knowing that Dani must have told Mom how old he was.

Dad, having been quiet until then, jumped in. “I agree, Drew. You are too young to be in a relationship, and you are in the middle of so many other changes right now. Take it one thing at a time.”

“It’s not like I’m asking to be allowed to go on dates or anything,” Drew argued.

“Then what are you asking? Or what are you planning?”