Page 38 of The Cheerleader

I feel that giddiness rise again, and I only hope I’m not the only one who feels the special bond. Of friendship. Friendship is special. Especially friendship with a secretly caring guy like Bryan.

We have the fittings for our new uniforms at Pete’s house and spend the rest of the week practicing, eating, taking long cool showers, and collapsing into bed at night. Or maybe I should speak for myself.

Carol ordered candy for our fundraiser to help buy the guys’ uniforms—blue-and-white checked pants to match our skirts and white shirts with the letter C printed on them.

Liz ordered extra megaphones for the guys, and I have no idea where she got the money. She said the old ones were battered and ruined, not an acceptable showing in front of a crowd.

The bookstore opens on Saturday, and the students are moving in starting this weekend. I was advised we should get to the bookstore as early as possible before it gets overcrowded.

“Didn’t you see the signs?” Liz asks, lounging across the chair sideways in our dorm’s common living room while Carol, Judy, and Sherry sit on the floor and I lie on the couch, wishing I had an ice pack or a tub of cold water.

“That’s right,” Carol says in between bites of her candy bar. “They’re setting up the Hawley Armory as an adjunct bookstore.”

“Isn’t that where we had cheering tryouts?”

She nods.

“I’m buying my books used,” Judy says. “I do it every year. My older sister told me it was the way to go.”

“Where do you find used books?” I ask, perking up.

“People leave notes on the bulletin board at the bookstore. That’s where I find most of mine unless I know someone who took the course before.”

I file away the information, glad to have an opportunity to cut my expenses. I can use the extra money to buy my sneakers and other things I need for cheerleading.

“I can’t wait for the rest of the students to arrive,” Judy says.

“I can’t wait for classes to start,” Sherry pipes up.

Carol sighs. “I can’t wait for the first dorm party.”

“What about you, Liz?” I ask.

“I can’t wait for our first game.”

“Next week.” A chill of trepidation runs through me, and my wish for a cold bath disappears.

Chapter Nine

Susie

The minute I walk through the door of my first class at UConn, almost late, I finally feel like an official student. It’s unlike me to be even close to late, but I’m still getting used to sharing the bathroom with the entire floor of twenty girls. My nerves calm down now that I’m here because I’m in my element inside a classroom.

That’s when I spot him. Bryan. Shit.

How is that possible? The classroom is mostly filled, and there must be over thirty students in here. I shouldn’t be surprised because English Comp is a requirement to graduate—or so my advisor told me. I guess that means even Ag majors need to take the class.

He’s sitting at the back of the room, dwarfing the standard-issue desk chair, sitting with his head down, staring at what I’d guess is the syllabus, as if it’s a death notice.

Making my way across the rows of desks, I’m drawn in his direction because I’m… I don’t know—stupid? He gives off those vibes that say come near me and I’ll bite. But we’re friends. We have a special connection.

So why do I feel so uncomfortable around him?

No one else is near him. I take my time sitting. The room must have at least fifty seats, and I might be the last one in the door.

Mentally daring him to try intimidating me—because why should he when we’re on the same team—I sit next to him. He doesn’t look up.

“Hi Bryan. I’m surprised to see you in this class.”