Chapter 52: Chapter 52
The stadium was a common one where we have had games before but for this day alone the lights were on in full glare. We had arrived earlier than the other school though it was mid-day so it was as good a time as any to secure good seats. We were directed to a place very close to the court and since we cheerleaders were essential in the game as well we got to take front seats. The Class 2 students found equally good seats and before mid-afternoon came around we were watching a group of middle school students whose school had booked the stadium for that afternoon to practice their tap dance routine.
When the lights turned down an announcement came up on the PA system.
“15 minutes until the long-awaited game between Edwin and Co. And St. Patrick’s. It is a game like no other because we are here to witness the beginning of many young careers here today!”
We cheered and pumped our pompoms in the air, our white sneakers making thumping sounds on the bleachers.
St. Patrick’s students were beginning to arrive in their green uniforms, their cheerleaders, I gotta say looked good as heck, holding green and gold pompoms and cheering as they walked into the stadium.
“St. Patrick!”
“Champions!”
“St. Patrick!”
“Champions!”
“What a lame cheer,” Adeline laughed. “Edwinas let’s show them the stuff we can do.”
The girls were ready to start the drill when Siobhan interfered with a raise of her hand and a mischievous smile.
“Girls, girls come on. Let’s save the best for when the game begins we don’t want them to steal our cheer. Dan, Gideon and Janet, I hope you guys are ready to lift us as high as you can tonight!”
“You can count on us.”
“Good.”
Before we could plan more about the drill Coach called us together with the boys. I gotta be honest with you, the boys looked good in their uniform and very professional as heck too! Their uniforms, blue and yellow as opposed to the practice uniform of purple and gold were smart and neat. They looked like pros already and with them towering over us like logs of evergreen trees it felt good to be sure that they would use their heights and skills to their advantage.
“I am glad you all are pumped for this game,” coach said setting aside his game board with its plans and player setup. “And I want to say a huge thank you to the cheerleaders too for the efforts they have put into their drill. I know it wasn’t easy since you guys only had two weeks to prepare but so far I can say that I am proud of our progress. Siobhan and Eva, thanks for being good captains.”
“Head captain and Assistant,” Siobhan said with a laugh. Eva chuckled.
“Yup don’t want to make that mistake.”
Siobhan rolled her eyes at her and gave me an ‘I told you look.’
“She is just being nice,” I whispered to her. Siobhan didn’t look convinced.
“My bad,” Coach continued. “Head captain and Assistant captain. Thank you for leading the team with any luck your efforts will be rewarded when we practice for the cheerleading competition coming up next summer.”
Gasps of pleasant surprise went through the cheerleaders as we excitedly looked at one another with joy. We have never participated in a cheerleading competition before, to be in one now will be nice.
Coach cleared his throat to get our attention. “Don’t get too excited yet don’t forget what is happening today, we have to cheer the boys so their dreams can come true.” He turned to the boys. “The girls have made your jobs easier boys, you get to kiss three girls of your choice so long as you are the top scorer.”
The passed mischievous grins and nudged each other.
“Only if you are the top scorer so don’t go thinking you can kiss us anyhow you want,” I said to them catching Aaron’s eye. For the first time in a long time, especially since yesterday, he didn’t look away from me. He maintained eye contact with me and I could see his heart in his eyes. He smiled at me lovingly. I returned his smile glad that things might just get better again. But then I looked at Andre and there was that look again. That longing look that tugged at my heart. Once again I was transported back to Mainland and our first time, the jokes, his smile, the golf cart, and how I had wanted him to notice me while pretending I didn’t like his attention. Then his appearance in Edwin and Co. Once again I remembered his lips on mine and how he held me when I got my period. His warm arms around me, his heart beneath my ear, and the feel of my body sliding down his.
Was it just purely physical?
I looked away. He didn’t and I wished he would stop before anyone noticed.
“So,” Coach said. I focused my attention on him instead, trying hard not to notice Andre’s gaze still on me. “Now that you all have that bit of information, let’s do our best eh?”
“Yes, Coach!”
Coach was pleased with our enthusiasm. “Good. Let’s go over the game plan again shall we?”
The rest of us went back to our seats. Drink vendors with trays of cola and Sprite were handing them out to people. Mr. Jorge paid for some drinks for us but we couldn’t drink them now because we had to be light enough for our flips.
From the back doors, spectators began to arrive. And more than the spectators were popular scouts coming down the stairs to take good seats that provided a good view into the court.
Even Mr. Jorge was nervous as he rubbed his hands together. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have another champion from Edwin and Co. playing for a major league?”
“Did we ever have one?”
“Jessica Underwood. You remember her don’t you?” he sounded very proud of her. “She plays for Queensland female basketball league now.”
He hadn’t even finished talking when Jessica herself came through the door. Since I was turned in my seat to listen to Mr. Jorge talk I saw her almost immediately. She has always been tall but she looked taller than ever and even more beautiful. And her arms were more toned as were her legs displayed beneath her short black gown with the left side slit.
She had a mischievous smile as she looked around and saw where we were seated. She waved and began to make her way down the aisle.
She put her hand to her lips indicating that I stay quiet as she snuck behind Mr. Jorge while he spoke. The rest of the students who had seen her smiled and waved, some of them even getting up from their seats.
“She used to be very mischievous, I’m surprised Annabel Reed chose her as her successor.”
We tried to hold our giggles as he continued to talk unaware of Jessica behind him.
“Really, Mr. Jorge. You still think I’m mischievous?”
He nearly jumped off his seat. “Jessica!”
“Mr. Jorge,” she laughed as she stood up to hug him. “Glad to know I am still on your mind after all these years.”
He hugged her back obviously pleased to see her. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be in Queensland?”
“I took a break to watch these young boys play,” she laughed. “Glad to know I am not the only one seeking a basketball career. You look good, Mr. Jorge, not balding like I thought you would be given how much trouble I got in while I was still a student.”
He laughed heartily. “And I am proud of the young woman you have become.”
She detangled from him to come and greet the rest of us. “You guys!” she hugged us all and then she faced me. “My successor, I am guessing you are loving your position as Head girl?”
“Geez it’s stressful but I am loving it. You look good.”
“I feel good. Well, I didn’t make you Head girl for nothing, you had the qualities of a strong woman that’s why I chose you…”
“Over me,” Shewa said. She had just come back from taking pictures for the school newspaper. “But I’m not mad. Bianca makes a better Head girl than I would.”
Jessica laughingly reached for her and they both hugged like long-lost friends.
"What are you doing here?" Shewa laughed.
“Heard about the game and came to watch. Let me go greet Coach quickly, I’ll be back,” Jessica said and left.