The audience went wild at Mighty Tiger High. People of all ages were watching the match below with great intensity and focus. It was the first game of the year and everyone hoped that their team was going to be the one that won it. The Mighty Tigers fought hard against their opponents, the Slimy Frogs. Both teams seemed to be equally matched in skill. This game could go to either side which only increased the fighting spirit of both teams even more.

“Kill em Tigers!”

“Rip those Frogs to shred!”

“Don’t let those stupid cats beat us!”

“Give them the tonguing of a lifetime!”

The halftime bell rung, signaling both teams to stop and return to their benches. Now it was time for the supporting role for both teams. Both team's cheerleaders would duke it out in a cheerleading battle! The best cheer routine decided by the audience, the referee, and the judges would provide an advantage to their team for the next half. With a flip of a coin, the Slimy Frogs won the toss and were allowed to go first.

One of the most popular and non-explicit pop songs was played as they performed their cheer. This got the audience in a good mood before they even started. The Mighty Tiger’s cheerleading squad watched as their enemies showed off an impressive performance that both sides of the audience cheered for at the end. At one point, the Slimy Frog players were taunting the Mighty Tigers because of their confidence in their cheerleaders’ show. It looked like it would be an impossible task to top the Slimy Frog’s. But the Mighty Tiger’s cheerleading squad didn’t give up.

They didn’t practice all this time just to give up when things looked difficult. Especially Heather! The freshman cheerleader who just joined this team with her best friend since childhood. This year would be different for her. She wouldn’t be the sidekick anymore but the center of attention for once in her life! And now was her best time to prove it. To show that all her training and practice wasn’t for nothing. As one of the team’s flyers, it was her job to be thrown and lifted in the air. Being the center of attention as she’s about to go up, while in the air, and when she lands. Everyone’s eyes will be on her, watching her show the efforts of her training.

“Let’s do this, girls!” Ashley, her best friend shouted.

Heather moved her pom-poms and hips to the beat of the song. Their song was as equally popular as the Slimy Frog’s. Both of the songs were at the top of the music rankings but after the Slimy Frog’s performance it only looked like a poor imitation. The crowd wasn’t as excited when their song started to play unlike how they were with their opponents.

But Heather didn’t let this bother her! As she was being lifting up the pyramid of her fellow teammates, she could feel a burning heat inside her chest. A heat that was growing hotter every second. This flame was screaming to get out. To release! Heather couldn’t let something like this ruin her big moment. This cheer routine is everything! Her freshman year is going to be the worst if she messes things up!

‘I don’t care what this feeling is but just don’t ruin my performance! Everyone’s eyes are on me for once. And I won’t let anything take that away!’ The uncontrollable energy erupted inside Heather.

The girls underneath her tossed her into the air, expecting her to lift off and come back down in cradle position where they’ll catch her but instead Heather did something no one in the entire gymnasium expected. She flew up into the ceiling of the gym! Spinning wildly while doing several flips on her way up and down. Everyone’s eyes were on her.

She could feel a strange energy within herself bubbling from being the center of attention. An energy even greater than the blazing fire from before! Heather could see that her team down below had no confidence in being able to catch her on her way down. That didn’t matter to her though. Right now, she felt like she could do anything! Some of the referees came over to catch her once they saw how far up, she went.

Heather ignored them all. She purposely avoided the referees and perfectly landed on her foot with a magnificent pose that matched in time with the song. An ear-deafening applause exploded from the audience. Screams, hollers, whoops, and much more rang out in support for Heather. Her smile couldn’t stretch any wider at the sound of this. This support from the audience concentrated the energy from earlier into exponentially increasing! The freshman cheerleader continued the cheer routine without her team.

Every single person shouted out in support, amazed at what the freshman cheerleader was doing. She took over the whole stage as she tumbled, flipped, jumped, spun, and twirled all over the ring. It was as if the whole world was in slow motion for Heather. Her body felt as light as a feather right now. The multiple phones and cameras recording her right now filled her with even more power! Without a shadow of a doubt, Heather understood that she finally awakened her superpower. And that it was somehow related to bringing attention to herself.

Now she could finally hold her head up with pride at school and at home. Actually, being able to go to college and becoming someone worth something in society was now possible for her! It took her 14 years to awaken her superpower when most awakened theirs in elementary. Just becoming the top cheerleader in their school wasn’t her main goal anymore but to pass the admission’s test into Overwhelming Fist University and prove to her parents that she isn’t worthless. She’s worth paying attention to and earning their love as well, just like her brother.

“You were amazing!!!”

“We got fucking smoked! Who the hell is that girl?!”

“Where are her parents?! They should be the loudest ones here right now!”

“I can’t wait to upload this on Unitube and get thousands of views for my channel!”

Heather’s parents didn’t come to her first game of the year. She couldn’t wait to see the look on their faces after she tells them how great it turned out because of her. After the cheerleaders performed, they were shuffled off to the sides so that the fighters could get back in the ring. The Mighty Tigers were given an additional point lead because of Heather. Their team then went on to win the game with a 3-point lead over the Slimy Frogs.

“What the hell was that, Heather?!” Aria, the co-captain shouted at her.

“Attention hog...”

“We’re supposed to be a team, you know?”

“You should’ve stuck to the chosen routine! Now everybody is going to think we’re nothing and you’re everything!” The other girls complained.

Heather only smiled at them. She was looking down on them, in a totally obvious condescending way. This type of attention was working as well. Their insults, jealousy, envy, and anger only helped her gain control over the energy flowing inside her. With this energy, she decided use it all by strengthening the cells in her body instead of splitting it between the source of her superpower and her cells. By strengthening her cells with the energy gained from this game, it would improve her physique to an entirely new level! The new Heather could beat the old Heather from the start of this game in every aspect. Intelligence, strength, speed, agility, reflexes, combat ability, and superpower.

“I’m sorry, I helped our team win.” Her smile was as fake as a smile could be, no one was fooled.

“That’s not the point! The point is that you didn’t follow the plan! We could’ve won even without you showing off like that!” Aria retorted.

“Could we?” Heather shrugged, confidence from awakening already flowing through her.

No longer would she have to keep her head down, being subservient to any other metahuman around her age. Heather would act more in tune with her desires and her true self without caring about what anybody else thought. Thanks to her superpower, this might even help her get stronger! The more attention she gains, the more power she would gain. Dozens of ideas already raced through her head about how to gain attention to further her power. In school, at home, in her local neighborhood, and even online!

In this era of superpowers and Superbeasts, it was all too easy to gain attention if you had the right resources. And for her, it didn’t matter if it was positive or negative attention apparently! Just any type of attention would boost her higher. Of course, she had to find appropriate ways of gaining attention that wouldn’t interfere with her daily life. After this game, there was no doubt that her popularity was going to soar. The hard part was going to keep that popularity rising until she’s on the top of the social hierarchy in the school.

“Nice job, Heather.” Ashley secretly whispered to her.

“Thanks. I know.” Heather coldly responded, no longer seeing Ashley as someone above her.

Throughout their friendship since childhood, Heather was always compared to her best friend. This didn’t do well for the girl’s mental state. Ashley was always said to be the prettier, more graceful, smarter, richer, and held more potential than Heather ever would. She was the most popular one and Heather was just the accessory. But no longer would that be the case. They would be equals and in time, Heather planned to make sure that she completely exceeds Ashley until she’s looked at as the extension to her!