I promised Nate that I would meet him in the parking lot after my cheer practice is over and he is done with a makeup test that he missed because of his unfortunate injuries. But right now, as I'm tying my laces of my cheer shoes, I would much rather be at home or anywhere else for that matter.

All the girls gather around on the grass, their heads bent together as they look at the little black book with stunts. When I approach them, they all turn and smile. I try my hardest to smile back.

"Hey ladies," I say tightening my ponytail. I reach for the book but Alyssa holds it over her head.

"Not so fast, Captain." She grins and for a second I'm scared for my life. Alyssa smiling from ear to ear is dangerous. "Are you going to spill about why you missed the last couple practices?"

I called in because I was too upset about what happened with Nate. To know that most of these girls were friends with my old group of friends really irked me. Cheer practices, though we do go through routines if it is for State, are mostly an hour worth of gossiping. I am more than positive I was the buttend of the talk. And I didn't want to be there to catch it.

I shrug. "I had mono," I lie. This might appear to be true to them because I had missed a few days of school as well, which my parents are oblivious about. I escaped over to Nate's to make sure he was comfortable during his bedrest. School the last thing on my mind.

I look across the field at the football team doing drills. Danny is currently running across the field to catch the ball, shirt drench with sweat. His teammates clap their hands as he cradles the ball and does his annoying, stupid, victory dance. I imagine myself headbutting him like the rest of his team is doing to the dummies on the sidelines.

"But you're feeling better now?" Alyssa continues to ask. I can't tell if she can detect that I am lying but she lets it go when I shrug my shoulders again.

"Are you sure?" This comes from Mariah who then shrinks back when my glare narrows in on her dull brown eyes.

"Are we going to get to it or are we going to stand around all night?" I snap. After a few glances around the circle, Alyssa grudgingly hands me the black book and I flip through it. All the girls' eyes are on me as I pretend to be interested in which routine to practice first.

I really want to go home. Actually, what I really want to do involves Nate and myself at either one of our houses with our butts planted on the couch and a movie in front of us. I loved watching movies with Nate because, though I can see the screen, Nate is the one that usually ends up explaining the movie to me. He is a big film buster and has got me hooked on Game of Thrones.

"Hey, Kelly?" Paige, the girl I officially met at the bonfire hushly asks as I direct everyone to take their places.

"What's up?" My eyes remain on the book as I speak.

"Is everything okay?"

I look over at her and my eyes drop to see a Three Musketeer bar in her hand. She notices me eyeing it and instantly clams up. She quickly stuffs it into her sweatshirt and runs her tongue over her teeth. The sight is one of a chipmunk dodging a wild cat during prawl hour.

Months ago, I would have snatched it away and told her to run it off until she pukes it up. I frown, remembering how she pointed this out not too many weeks ago.

She notices my cross looks and mistakes it as I'm about to lay into her. Paige squares her shoulders and prepares herself.

"It would be better if I had some chocolate in my system." I motion down at her sweatshirt and hold my hand out.

Slowly, she reaches for the chocolate bar and places it in my hand as if this was a trick. Her eyes watch me cautiously as I peel the wrapper down and take a bite.

I close my eyes while I chew and swallow. "Thanks." I hand it back to her. "I really needed that."

She stands there unmoving, her eyes blinking over and over again as if she is on repeat. "No problem, Captain."

I lift the whistle to my lips and blow it once. This causes all the girls to jump like it usually does. Normally, I couldn't stop the malicious smile from forming at the sight but not this time. I hold back rolling my eyes. "Let's get started."

Stunt after stunt, we go through cheers, some for friday night and some to get down from the State Cheer Competition. Our Stunt coach, Gretchen, the old cheer Captain from the eighties has yet to show up but I didn't want to stay here all night waiting for her.

We are in the middle of perfecting our last lift when another senior's voice creeps through the pack of bodies. "Look at those freak over there."

All eyes, including my own, flicker to the pack of boys who happen to be Trent and Gavin, along with a few others, passing cards around a circle at a park table. They are laughing and high fiving each other as they collect coins from the center of the table.

I smile to myself at how much fun they seem to be having.

"God," Lilian, a girl who always paints my face for me on friday nights, adds, her black hair glinting in the late afternoon sun. "I pity people like that. What losers."

"I don't know," I say, having a hard time looking away from Nate's friends. "They look like they're having fun to me."

A few girls scoff and it takes everything in me not to whip around and go evil canival on them.

"Oh, please, Kelly." This comes from Mariah who tightens her grip on Paige's foot. "Are you so high and righteous that you can't laugh along anymore? You used to have a field day making fun of weirdos like that."

Mariah's words cut me deep. Gavin and Trent look so carefree as they played with their cards. The rest of the boys gathered around the table did too and that is what really struck me. They were all happy for one another even when they were losing.

It finally dawns on me like the sun rises in the east and sets in the west as I watch everyone around me. There's them, laughing and enjoying the moment as they did something they enjoyed. And then there's them, snickering and belittle those who like different things then them. And then there's me. The one who just didn't give a shit anymore that things had to be so black and white.

"You're right," I say and take a deep breath. "And that's why I quit."

"You what?" Paige questions at the top of the pyramid. Her eyes grow big as I remove myself from the huddle. The bases steady her until she is placed swiftly on the ground.

"I quit," I repeat nonchalantly. It is like a giant weight is lifted off my shoulders at this epiphany. I let out a big breath and smile for the first time since arriving to practice.

"Kelly, think about this..." Alyssa warns.

"I have," I assure not only her but myself. I take off the whistle and walk over to Alyssa. Opening her hand, I place the whistle in her palm along with the little black book. "They're all yours now, Captain."

Everyone's mouth is open and it's a comical sight if you would subtract the heated looks from their disbelieving eyes. But I didn't really care at this moment because I was officially free from the last string that binds me to these people.

A lot of these girls are kind but they have been corrupted by how they think they should act. They are no more special than the team water boy yet they all believe to be something worthy of a southern belle curtsy.

Alyssa's mouth drops open but her shock is soon replaced with utter joy. I wink at her and gather my things in a hurry to get back to Nate who is bound to be done with his test.

He is there, leaning against the brick wall with his headphones in his ears. I bounce up to him and throw my hands around his neck. Without a second thought, I place my mouth over his. Nate kisses me back, not having to question who is attacking him in such a way.

"You seem happy about something," he says as he grins down at me. He takes out one earbud and places it in my ear. Def Leppard blares in my eardrums. I take it back out and put it back in his.

"I am. Do you want to know why?" I wrap my arm around his slender waist and guide him to my car.

"Oh course." He shuts off his music and tucks his phone back into his back pocket.

"I quit cheer." The top of my car is down because of the surprisingly nice weather and it makes tossing my duffle bag into my back seat so much easier then it would if it was up.

"On purpose?" Nate asks. He has already made himself comfy in the passenger's seat. "How come?"

"Because I wanted too." I slide into my seat and sigh happily. I look over to see Nate with a neutral expression on his face. "Nate," I say reaching over and shaking his shoulders. "I am happy. I haven't been this happy in a long time."

A slow smirk spreads across his face. "Is that so?"

I lean across the console and both of our smiles grow as I do so. "You make me happiest of all." I kiss him again but this time the pace is slow and enticing and it makes my toes curl inside my cheer shoes.

"Glad to be of service." Is his sly remark. His sunglasses obscure my view but I am sure that his eyes are twinkling to match his breathtaking smile.

The football team marching across the lot to head into the locker rooms, makes both of our heads turn in their particular direction. I try not to really look though because it no longer matters to me what all of that entails.

But Danny's face captures my attention. He isn't looking my way and for that I am glad because I didn't want to have to deal with his baggage at that moment. I am too happy to care about much other than the boy whose kiss still lingers on my lips.

But his broken nose could not go unseen. Both of his eyes are purple which make the blues of his irises look deadly as they catch sight of me. I know I should feel somewhat guilty for pretty much assaulting him but I can't find it in me to do so.

"Let's get out of here," I suggest, still holding eye contact with Danny. He stops and watches me, his clasp tightening on his helmet as I dare to not look away.

I slip on my sunglasses, making Nate and myself sure look like a duo and pull out of the parking lot leaving that mess behind.

*****

I follow Nate inside his house. "Who's car is that in your driveway?" I ask as we walk up to the front door.

"Is it a red Nissan?" Nate asks as he turns the doorknob.

I give him a look indicating I know nothing about cars. But the car is red so I answer that as positive.

"That--" he says as a handsome man comes walking down the staircase. He's lean yet stalky, a good few inches shorter than Nate. His sandy blonde hair swirls perfectly thanks to gel gripping the strands. His smile is boyish as he gazes down at me.

"About time you got home, Nathaniel," the guy says. "Who's this beautiful creature?"

I look up expectantly at Nate and lace my fingers with his as a sign of comfort. The guy's attention goes between us and he cocks an eyebrow.

"--Would be my brother." Nate finishes with a sheepish sigh and steps into his brother's embrace. His hand is still clutching mine which makes for a complicated stance.

Christopher Haynes meets my eye over his brother's shoulder as they quickly embrace and I am shocked to see almost an identical set of eye peering back at me.

The only difference is Christopher's are more green than brown and the obvious, they weren't Nate's. So they weren't as beautiful.

"Christopher," he introduces himself, extending his hand.

"Kelly," I say back, politely shaking his hand in an even more awkward gesture considering Nate's hand has tightened around my right.

Christopher chuckles again and pats Nate on the back. "Chill out, dude. I know when a girl is taken or not. Would you get a look at this one." He juts his thumb towards Nate. "I'm just being polite. No need to go Chuck Norris on me."

I laugh and bump Nate's shoulder with mine.

"Shut up, Chris," Nate grumbles beside me, his face turning red and I about swoon. He starts to loosen his hand in mine as if he is now embarrassed of his extremely enticing behavior but I don't allow it.

"Are you home for the weekend?" I ask to get the spotlight off Nate.

"Yup, sure am," Nate's brother answers as he shoves his hands into his pockets. He shrugs. "Dad called saying they had news that concerns the whole family."

As if on cue, Lucy rounds the corner with Charlotte hot on her heel looking like she just got down throwing a tantrum, her face red and wet with tears. When she sees me, her face brightens and she runs over to hug my side.

My smile brightens because it's nice to know that a child likes you. "Hey, kiddo."

"Are you staying?" Charlotte asks, peering up at me with large eyes. "You can come upstairs and play with my baby dolls. We'll have to play with those because Mom said no to getting me a horse."

"I don't know Charlie," Christopher says, a mischievous look in his eyes. "I don't think Nathaniel here will allow Kelly out of his sight. He seems rather attached."

Nate's arm swings out and would have hit his brother too if Christopher didn't dodge it in the knick of time.

"Knock it off, Christopher," Their mother scolds. But she doesn't look angry at all. It was evident that she is over the moon about having all of her children under the same roof. "I have some good news, Nathaniel," she says clapping her hands together like a cheerleader. "Kelly you are more than welcome to stay to hear it but I just can't hold it in anymore."

"What is it, Mom?" Nate moves towards her voice and she reaches out and brings him to her. Her eyes begin to water as she grasps both of Nate's large hands in hers. Tim rounds the corner, an equally enthused smile stretching across his face.

"Did you tell him the news?" He bellows, beaming down at his wife.

"Someone better tell us what's going on before one of us is forced to play the guessing game," Christopher sarcastically says, moving closer to his family in the foyer.

"You've been approved for the surgery," Lucy blurts out. "You're going to see again, honey."