Chapter 28: Chapter 28

“Hello, boys!”

It was our last class for the day but Mrs. Perkins was most likely still holed up in the Staff Block gossiping to remember she was supposed to be teaching. Siobhan stood on the front desk with her hands up as she waited for the attention of the class to be on her. When she was sure she had everyone’s attention she practically glowed and flipped her hair.

“Glad I have your undivided attention. I am sure you all have heard the announcement making the rounds about school.”

“Are you talking about the student-teacher fuck thing? Because I have a hunch about that one.”

Siobhan glared at Dan for interrupting her. “No Dan, that’s not what I am here to talk about and please refrain from interrupting me again.” She rolled her eyes dramatically. “As I was saying, the ‘other’ announcement on the radio today cleared stated something else; you boys will now have your cheerleading squad.”

The girls cheered but the boys remained silent.

“Yeah we heard that but why do we have to?” Gideon asked.

Siobhan let herself down from the desk and took a wooden ruler which she tapped on her hand dramatically as she walked toward him. “Because,” she tapped his head with the edge of the ruler causing a few people to laugh, “we girls are tired of having to play without anyone cheering us. You boys have enjoyed the hard work of EAC’s cheerleading squad, it’s about time the girls enjoyed it too.”

The girls muttered their agreement.

“What’s the big deal anyway? A couple of flips and chants of Go, EAC! Champs, or whatever it is you girls always say,” Andre said folding his arms across his chest. When his eyes fell in my direction I looked away very quickly. Since last night I’ve been avoiding him for my sanity and for Siobhan’s sake. Thankfully he didn’t seem to notice neither did he care.

As soon as I looked away I noticed the girls exchanging glances and secretive smiles.

“Well,” Siobhan crooned as she walked toward him, her green eyes teasing, “is that what you think cheerleading is all about lover boy?” She leaned down and stroked his cheek with her ruler before bringing it to rest on his lips. Andre bit his bottom lip and reached to grab her but she escaped him easily with a laugh that had Eva and her friends rolling their eyes. Aaron, Gideon and Mark exchanged side glances with compressed laughter.

Siobhan, glowing in everyone’s reaction walked back to the front of the class.

“It's not as simple as that but if you think it’s that simple, babe, boys, meet us at the field this evening…”

“Ugh I hate to be the killjoy here,” I interjected carefully as all eyes turned to me, “but I think you guys have forgotten that we have something like Reading Time on our timetable and it’s starting today.”

Half the class groaned. No one likes Reading Time, it’s a mandatory 2 hours session set aside for reading, hence the name…Reading Time. Or call it Prep.

“Ugh, that!”

“Unless,” Aaron said with a wicked glint in his eyes, “we skip it and call the girls bluff, we are final students after all, the rules don’t apply to us.”

“Uhm no you’re wrong, Aaron, the rules do apply to us… “

“Bianca!” the entire class droned.

“What?! I’m just trying to be the responsible one here!”

Aaron left his set with a charming smile and came to sit on my desk. I looked up at him enjoying the dancing affection in his eyes. “I know you’re responsible, I am trying to be too but missing one day of Prep isn’t going to cause the school to shut down.” He looked up and caught Siobhan’s gaze, his eyes teasing, “Unless the girls are afraid we will beat them in their own game.”

“Hell no,” was the consensus from all the girls.

Aaron turned to me. “See? You’re the only naysayer. I’m in support of skipping Reading Time for this so what do you say?”

I faked a frown. “So there is no one with me on this?” I asked everyone. They shrugged. Throwing my hands up in the air in mock surrender I gave in. “Alright whatever, let’s skip Reading Time and show the boys that cheer isn’t all about flips and chants.”

Everyone cheered. I rolled my eyes at the lack of seriousness of my classmates.

“I can’t believe you are in support of this,” I whispered to Aaron who put a finger on my lips. “Hush hush don’t spoil the fun now.”

I playfully slapped his hand away. “I thought you were trying to be more responsible given that you are Head boy and all.”

“Yeah but a little fun doesn’t hurt. Or are you scared we boys might actually be better cheerleaders than you girls claim to be?”

“Yeah right, I am so scared,” I laughed. “You boys are going to be crying for release by the time we start training.”

“That’s a funny choice of word. Release eh?” he wagged his brows.

I couldn’t help the laughter bubbling out of me. “Oh God be serious, Aaron!”

I suddenly felt the prickly feeling of being watched and sure enough, there was Andre the creepy fellow watching mine and Aaron’s exchange. But someone else was watching too. In her place on the front seat of the last row was Carla watching too. She smiled, I smiled and to Andre, I raised my brow in question. When he wouldn’t look away I rolled my eyes and looked away. My heart fluttered in my chest though especially since that kiss came to mind again. Why did he kiss me?

“So,” Siobhan was saying, “meet us on the field this evening, and don’t worry about what to wear I’m sure we girls can find tights that will make your legs look good.”

And so it was decided, that evening, by 5, we would converge on the field to teach the boys a few cheerleading lessons.

I could already see Shewa shaking with excitement at the anticipation of a new story for the radio.

Right at that moment Mrs. Perkins walked in hurriedly and flushed from walking briskly.

“Am I supposed to be here now?” she asked breathing heavily.

Siobhan dropped the ruler and hurried to her seat, everyone else took their seats and brought out their notes.

“Yes, Mrs. Perkins.”

"Oh good, please have your seats. I apologize for being late. Take out your books, please."