"What?" Charlotte screeched in my ear. We were walking down the halls, killing time until fifth period.

"I know right? Cheerleading? That is the last thing I wanted to do in highschool." I stopped at my locker and exchanged my books.

"No kidding. No one wants to willingly spend time with those girls except for those girls." I closed my locker with a sigh and Charlotte eyed me up and down. "To play devil's advocate though, you have the perfect cheer body."

I slapped her arm, "Totally not helping Char."

"I'm sorry. So, when do you start?" We continued on our way, walking upstairs.

"Today."

"Today?" She shrieked again. Charlotte grabbed my arms and shook me, "What are you going to do?"

I pushed her off of me, "Obviously I have to go. I can't risk not graduating just because I don't want to be a cheerleader Char." I sighed and fished through my pockets for my key. "Give this to Mason so he has a ride home."

She took the key out of my hand, "But what about you?"

"I'll walk home. It's not that far. Plus it'll give me time to blow off steam from cheering." The obnoxiously loud bell cut me off and we went out separate ways heading to class.

~~~~🌸~~~~

The last few minutes of seventh period dragged on as I anxiously waited for after school to get here. When the bell rung I unwillingly got out of my seat and headed to the girls locker room.

To tell you the truth, I would've rather stayed in AP Calculus then head down to cheer practice. But, sucking up and shoving my self-pity into a vault, I walked with my head high down the halls. After all, I was not going to repeat senior year just because I didn't want to be a perky girl in a short skirt getting tossed in the air.

"Look who showed up girls." I had just entered the locker room when Makayla (who –just my luck– happened to be captain. Yay!) stopped me from going any further.

"Makayla. Can we just not fight with each other while we're cheering? You don't want me to be here just as much as me. Okay. So just tell me what to wear and hand me a uniform." I could see her thinking about what I said, then after a minute she flipped her hair over her shoulder and walked away.

"Fine by me." Once she was gone, Ms. Adams took her spot.

"Nice to see you showed up Daytona." She gave me a preppy smile that seemed way to genuine for anyone who works at this school.

"Yeah. Me too." I mumbled under my breath.

"So, first things first, you'll need a locker. So follow me and I'll show it to you." She led me through rows of maroon lockers before she stopped in front of one. "Here you are. Locker 342. Your combo is 26-42-8. Remember it." She sent me a wink over her shoulder and I put in the combo and threw my bag into it.

"There's a game this Friday so you'll need a uniform." She looked me up and down and turned to a light brown door that said 'Ms. Adams' in black sparkle letters. "You're probably a small." She dug around in a cardboard box before she pulled out a uniform.

It was a short, form fitting skirt, a matching long sleeve crop top, white cheer shoes, and a black bow.

"You'll have to wear it all day on game days. You'll get out of class thirty minutes early to warm up before games. Oh, and don't wear these shoes during the day. Wear some other kind of white shoes." She handed me the outfit and I neatly set it in my locker. "When you practice, wear spanx and a sports bra. Trust me, you don't want to wear a shirt."

She turned on her heel and walked away with a bounce in her step, "Wait! Ms. Adams! I don't have a sports bra or spanx right now."

She jogged back over to her office and reached inside the cardboard box. "Silly me. Here you go. These are strictly for practice." She tossed me a black sports bra and maroon spanx.

I quickly changed into my practice gear and figured my vans would have to be okay to work out in for today. Mental note: buy some tennis shoes.

When I was fully changed I jogged out through the double glass doors and headed to the football field. I saw the team sitting on the grass infront of the bleachers stretching so I sped up and plopped down a few feet away from everyone and stretched my legs.

"Okay girls. Everyone on their feet! I want two laps around the track! Go! Last person to get back has another one!" Makayla had a bullhorn and shouted into it. I plugged my ears but got up and ran anyways.

I was silently thanking God that I had decided to run a couple of miles over the break because had I not, I probably would've been in the back. But instead I managed to stay towards the front the whole way through and when we got done, I wasn't even out of breath.

Makayla got her bullhorn out and was yelling in it again. "Take another lap Angela. As for the rest of you, we have a new cheerleader. Everyone say hi to Daytona. Help her learn the routine for this Friday." The girls all turned and waved at me.

Not wanting to seem like a snatch I waved back.

"But first, Daytona, let's see what you can do. We'll have to figure out where your strengths are so we know where to place you."

I nodded my head and took jogged a little further back. To start out I did a round off-double back handspring-back tuck.

It wasn't the hardest thing I had ever done, but it was good enough. After all, it had been awhile since I attempted anything.

The girls clapped for my stunt and I even saw Makayla gave a nod of acceptance. "Good. Now we'll see where you fit on a pyramid."

By the time practice was done, I was dripping with sweat and the sun had set a couple of hours ago. I had my bag slung over my shoulder and I had started making the long trek home.

I let out a sigh and I could see my breath come out in a puff of smoke. California was having an unusually cold end of fall/beginning of winter season.

I wrapped my arms around my bare torso and tried to keep my teeth chattering to a minimum.

I had already walked about a mile and a half when I had to stop and sit for a minute. "Who's crazy idea was it to walk home?" I muttered under my breath.

I hadn't thought about the fact that practicing for two hours and making an eight mile walk home, on sore legs, was going to be a problem. I was going to unlock my phone and call Mason to pick me up, but as soon as I unlocked my phone, it died.

"Son of a–" I let out a disgruntled scream and stood up to continue my walk home.

After a few more minutes of walking and shivering a car rolled up beside me. "Need a ride?"

I didn't turn my head. "Nope. I'm good. Thanks though Logan."

His car came to a screening halt and the passenger door clicked open. "Get in Daytona. It's forty four degrees and you're wearing practically nothing. Not that I mind but you look a little cold."

I stopped walking and faced him, "Will you stop talking if I get in the car with you?"

He gave me a crooked grin, "Yup."

I sighed and threw my bag into the back seat and climbed into the passenger seat. When I had my seatbelt on, he out the car in drive and we drove to my house.

He pulled into my driveway and I reached back to grab my bag at the same time he turned to me. Our faces were inches apart and I shoved the longing I felt into a vault in my head.

"Daytona. I, I,"

"You what?"

"I'm sorry."

I gripped the strap of my bag in my fist. "Sorry for what Logan? For leading me on? For making me fall for you? For hurting me?"

He hung his head and didn't say anything. "Let me know when you're sure what you're sorry about." I got out of the car and slammed the door. When I got in the house, I slammed the front door as well.

"What's up Ms. Warriors cheerleader?" Mason walked out of the kitchen with a box of pizza and a Pepsi in his hand.

"Hey Mason. Is that pizza all for me? Cause I could really use it right now." I sprawled out on the couch with a huff.

"Yup. Here you go. Figured you'd want something to cheer you up. The Pepsi is all yours too by the way. I know, I'm the best." He placed the pizza and Pepsi down on the coffee table in front of me and I wasted no time ripping the box open and snagging a piece.

"Fank oo Mazon. Ur da bev." I said through a mouth full of cheesy goodness.

"No prob." He sent me a wink and bounded up the steps while I continued to stuff my face.

Four slices in I had enough. I closed the box and put it in the fridge along with the soda and headed upstairs in wobbly legs.

I grabbed a tank top and my black Nike sweats before heading to the bathroom getting ready for a well deserved shower. I turned the water as hot as my body could handle and jumped in, washing off the sweat from practice. I got out and dried off throwing on my clothes and then jumping in bed. It took less than a minute for me to fall asleep.

~~~~🌸~~~~

My alarm had been going off for two minutes now, but I continued to lay in bed with a pillow over my head.

"Daytona. Turn your alarm off!" Masons voice was still masked with sleep and I could barely hear him from his room, but I rolled over and smacked my clock shutting it up.

It was roughly six thirty in the morning and I had to go out to buy shoes so I threw on leggings and a sweater. Throwing my cheer clothes and a towel into a duffel bag, I grabbed my car keys and headed to Mason's room, pushing his door open a little bit. "Hey, Mas, I'm heading out. See if you can get a ride with Jake or catch the bus."

He waved his hand in the air dismissing me.

I shut his door and made my way downstairs. I was going to grab an apple for breakfast, but I figured I could just stop and get something while I waited for the store to open.

Driving down the freeway, I could start to see the sunrising in the distance, giving light to the car that had been following me since I left my house.

The time on the dash showed that it was about seven o'clock and I tried to call Mason, but he didn't answer me so I called Jordan.

On the third ring he picked up. "Hello?" His voice was groggy and I could tell I woke him up.

"Hey. It's me Daytona. Sorry for waking you up, but I think someone is following me."

"Following you? Are you sure?"

I nodded my head then realized he couldn't see me, "Yeah. When I pulled out of my neighborhood, he was behind me, and he still is."

"Where are you? Do you think that maybe their heading the same place you are?"

I sighed, "Maybe. I just don't have a good feeling about this." I turned on my blinker and pulled off the freeway.

"Okay. Well when you can, make four left turns and if he is still there, then he's following you. If that happens call the police."

"Thanks Jordan. Again sorry for waking you up."

He grunted in response and hung up. I switched on my radio and took a left doing exactly what Jordan said too. At first I didn't see him under the shadow of the buildings surrounding me, but when I pulled back onto the main street, he was right behind me.

I dialed the police department and let them know what was going on. They reassured me that everything was going to be okay and that they'd send someone out to my location. Once that was taken care of I continued driving to the Nike shop.

They opened at 7:30 so I had about five more minutes of waiting to do before I could buy some good tennis shoes.

I took out my phone and was scrolling through Instagram when I thought I heard a knock at my window. I turned to see who was there but saw nothing.

After a few minutes of being paranoid I finally got out of my car and walked into the store and bought myself a pair of shoes.

~~~~🌸~~~~

"Hey. I'm at Smoothie King. What do you want?" I was on the phone with Charlotte waiting in an unnecessarily long line to order a freaking smoothie.

"Berry punch, and you're the best." Her voice was light and airy and it seemed to dance through the phone.

"I know I am. One berry punch coming up." I ended the call and was still two people away from ordering so I texted Jake.

Me: @sk. Want anything?

Jake: sk?

Me: smoothie king idiot

Jake: oh. The hulk chocolate thx

Finally it was my turn to order. I stepped up to the register and the lady behind the counter greeted me with a frown.

"Welcome to Smoothie King. What do you want." Her tone was flat and bored and I felt sympathy for her. The poor lady had probably been working since early this morning.

"Uh hi. Could I have a large berry punch, large hulk chocolate, large Caribbean way, and a medium passion passport please."

The lady sighed and put my order into the register. "Your total is $22.83."

I pulled out my debit card and swiped it. Stepping to the side to wait for my order, my phone buzzed and I checked it.

Restricted number: I'm always watching you.

Restricted number: Which did you order for yourself? The berry blast? No, you're more of a passion passport girl.

Goosebumps crawled over my skin and I searched the crowded building to see if I could find someone, but no stood out.

Just as I was going to stop looking, the door chimed and I ran after the person who left. "Who the hell are you and what do you want from me?" I yelled to nothing because whoever had texted me that creepy message, had disappeared.

Yo yo yo wassup?

Creepy text right? I wonder who it's from😰

Anyways how do you feel about Daytona being a cheerleader? Weird right. She's so badass yet has to cheer.

By the way, I mean no offense when I right this. I used to be a cheerleader myself and anything that is said in here against cheerleaders, is not my personal opinion. It's just how her character is.

Oh and btw, their school is the Warriors. Cue Mason saying what he said.

I would like to send out a shout-out to _Fabulous__Fangirl_ cait_nightly kawaiistar7 for commenting, voting, and all your positive feedback on this book! Without you guys I couldn't have made it this far or have gotten almost 4k reads!

I love all my lovely readers and thank you too!

Love, May. 😘❤️