"One-two,one-two-three. One-two, one-two-three," May's voice echoed in the school field. "Okay, one more. Show some more energy guys." May or Mikaela May Valdez is St Paula Academy's cheer captain. She's also Grade 10- Love's muse. She's always the class representative when in comes to beauty pageants and team muses. She always win. With her beauty and smart answers. Her mom trained her since she's a toddler. Her mother is a former beauty queen/model. But May is also super athletic, creative, good in dancing and formation, she's tenacious and always showed great stamina. That's why she got the captaincy in the cheerleading team. She got talent, all right, and no one can say otherwise.
"Okay, stay in your position. Good," as she taps Marj who is closest to her position. "Amelia, you need to stretch your arms. More, okay, that's good. Jacob, lower, that's it. Alex, can you lift her more? Okay, that's nice. Good job, everyone." She clapped thrice signalling for rest positions. "Okay, break for twenty minutes. Don't forget to hydrate guys."
May flopped down on the mat. She's exhausted. She's manning a twenty members cheer team. Fourteen girls and six boys. They had a busy morning with school works, with the date of the upcoming test now witheld from them. She needs to review her lessons thoroughly because as a team captain, she needs to maintain a certain average or she's out. Honestly, she's kinda worried. They need to perfect their team routine this week. As the sports team is preparing for the district meet wherein all schools at their district will compete in all sports event - cheerleading included. Aside from the upcoming test, the competition, she also needs to think about Prom.
"Ugh, I don't have anything to wear yet. We need to settle every details at the meeting tomorrow first before I chose a design for my gown. It takes at least ten days to create a decent one. Hopefully Miss Flores' schedule is not full yet and can still accommodate me." said May to herself. Miss Flores is a well known gown designer. She's also her mom's go-to designer.
"My God May, this routine is so insane," Marj said beside sounding impressed. "I must say that this one is our best so far." She added smiling.
"True!" Jocelyn joined in the conversation. She's wiping her sweat. "The formation is spectacular, especially the cartwheels at the end. I had goosebumps earlier while you're explaining it. The scenario ran through my mind and I'm sure this time, we'll also win."
May smiled. She appreciates praised like this. She spent weeks in research, listening to musics, watching videos just to come up with their own routine. The choreo, oh Lord, there are nights that she can't sleep just to perfect a single move. And she's thrilled that the girls liked it.
"By the way Marj," whispered Chloe who inched a little closer to her so that the other two can't hear their conversation. "Have you heard?"
"Heard what?" she asked. And for some reason, she felt her heart beat raced.
"I've talked to Marco yesterday," she rolled her eyes. "I mean I demanded to know why he's been acting up since last week," Chloe said smirking. "He's been aloof and distance and all. He doesn't act like that way," she explained. "So yesterday, I did not stop pestering him until he gave me an answer. At first, I thought that he wants to break up with me. But then, I was shocked with what he told me."
"So, what is it?," May asked carefully. She doesn't want to sound too excited but she has a sudden feeling that this is about the stolen test papers. "C'mon Chloe spill it so we can clear Mimi's name," she told herself.
"A rumor started on the basketball team that somebody knows who the real culprit is, the one who stole the test papers last week," said Chloe while stretching her legs. "My muscle got sore from the practice. Wait," and stretch some more. "There, more like it." She changed her position and drank in her pink tumbler. "So where were we?" she asked.
"Uhm, something about someone from the basketball team knowing who really stole the test papers," May said sounding uninterested. She drank in her tumbler. Her lips became dry with the suspense. Chloe shouldn't know that she's super curious to whatever she's saying.
"Oh, okay. So Marco heard from Brian who heard from Rich who heard from someone from the girl's basketball team about someone intentionally putting that test paper in Mimi's lockers," Chloe said slowly for the dramatic effect. She looked at May who seems absorb but distracted. "So, I think someone wants to frame Mimi here. So she will be expelled. I can't believe someone is that evil to plan all of this."
May's heart kinda stopped. She was shocked. But she acted natural, hair flips, nose crunch. "Did Marco told you who that someone is?" She needs to report this to Libby. She's itching to reach for her phone so she can send a message to their group.
"Uhm, no," Chloe answered. "You know it's just a rumor. But you can ask Jon about it. He's part of the team right? And the two of you are close," Chloe winked.
"Hahahaha, Chloe," May said laughing. "I know what you're thinking. Jon and I are just close friends."
"Yeah, sure, close friends," Chloe walked away smiling.
May stood up. Will relay all of this to Libby later. But for now, they need to continue on practicing. They're only halfway done and she's hoping they could finish up to the dance break before six o'clock. She checked her watch. It's half past four o'clock. Two more hours. She blew her whistle.
"Okay guys, now that we've rested, resume to last position. Will continue up to the pyramid part." She walked to the sound system and played their music. "One-two, one-two-three. One-two, one-two-three."