With a click, Alicia's dad collapsed the handle of his rolling luggage. Its tiny plastic wheels swiveled in the air as he lifted it off the pavement. With some effort, he managed to fit it in the crowded trunk of the Alcott family SUV, although he had to move a rolled-up tent and air mattress to do it.

“We'll be back in a couple days, sweetheart,” said Alicia's mom, kissing her on the cheek. “I left some money for dinner on the kitchen counter if you and Chase want to order pizza or something.”

“Cool! Thanks, mom,” said Alicia.

“Yes! Thank for peet. Much love peet,” said Chase enthusiastically.

The morning sun was shining down on Alcott family driveway, where Alicia and Chase had assembled to see her parents off for their romantic weekend getaway. “Hope you guys have fun at New Jack Fest,” said Alicia.

“How could we not have fun? What an iconic lineup! Hi-Five, Color Me Badd, and let's not forget: Another Bad Creation's first concert in over twenty years! This is going to be a historic moment in music history, kids,” said Alicia's mom.

Alicia's dad loaded a cooler, next. “Don't worry, you two. I'm gonna bring you both t-shirts,” he assured them. “It's just a shame you'll have to miss it.”

“Yeah, I feel the same way,” said Alicia sadly. “But don't worry about us. You two just enjoy yourself. You've earned a little alone time.”

“That's our Alicia. So selfless and considerate,” said her father appreciatively. He heaved the last suitcase into the trunk, and slammed it shut. Then, he raised a finger in warning as though threatening to wag it. “Just remember, girls. No parties.”

Alicia laughed. “Aw, c'mon dad. This is me you're talking about. I've never been to a party in my life and I never will. I'm just not interested in all that.”

“Well yes, we know that,” agreed Alicia's mom. She looked uncertain. “Still though. I know Lindsey can put some strange ideas in your head sometimes...”

The teen scratched her red hair, trying to look as clueless as she could. “Gee whiz, mom, like what? You know she's just like me. No drinking, no parties, and no sex until marriage,” said Alicia.

“Yes, I know you told me that, but...” said Alicia's mom. She sighed and shook her head. “Ahhh, you're right. I'm probably worrying for nothing.”

Alicia made a show of hesitating about something. “Do you think it would be okay if...No, no, forget it. I don't want to overstep my bounds.”

Her dad had moved on to inspecting the ropes which secured their folding chairs to the roof. “Go ahead and say it, sweetie.”

“Welllll...” said Alicia. Feeling emboldened, she cracked a hopeful smile. “Do you think it would be okay if me and Chase...stay up late?”

Her mom visibly balked at the idea. “I don't know...”

“Now now, dear. Alicia's, rrgh, sixteen now,” grunted Alicia's dad, tightening a knot. “Practically an adult. I think she can handle staying up late.”

Alicia's mom inspected her daughter, as if trying to gauge her maturity level, before saying, “Well...okay. But no scary movies!”

Alicia looked as cute as she could. “I know, Mom. I don't wanna give myself nightmares.”

They exchanged their final farewells, then Alicia's parents got in their car and drove away. “Alright! You guys can come out now!”Alicia announced.

“Whew. Close call,” said the keg delivery guys, emerging from some bushes and rolling a keg in front of them. “So where do you want it?”

“The living room sounds perfect,” said Alicia. “Thanks!”

The men hauled the barrel away, and Chase asked, “Hey, Leash? What keg?”

Lindsey and Caitlin emerged from the bushes next. Brushing leaves out of her hair, Lindsey said, “Well, Chase, you see, that keg is hollow, and it's full of beer! The lifeblood of the massive, insane party we're gonna throw!”

“Oh, jeez,” worried Caitlin. “I didn't know we were getting a keg...”

“Well, of course, Cait!” said Alicia happily. “I've invited like thirty people, and I'm expecting party crashers! How am I gonna keep all those people drunk without a keg?”

“I don't know if this is a good idea, you guys,” Caitlin worried. “If my mom finds out, I'd get in such big trouble...”

Lindsey's visible eye rolled. “Be rational, Caitlin. How could your mom possibly find out?”

“Someone could call the cops on a noise complaint, and since she's pretty much the only cop who works this town late at night, she would be the one who busts us.”

Alicia and Lindsey were silent. “That is, admittedly, a very plausible scenario,” conceded Alicia. However, she was not the sort of person to put much stock in any scenario other than best-case ones, so it didn't take her long to rebound with an enthusiastic smile. “But we can't worry about what MIGHT happen! What matters is what WILL happen! Everything WILL be fine, and our faith in that fact will make it so! That's the most basic tenet of cheerleading! Can you imagine if we went out on the field at a game and did a cheer that went 'Cacti, have you heard the news? There's a chance that you might lose!' What kind of cheer would that be?”

“A pretty bad one,” Caitlin said. “But here's a worse one. Uh...” She took a moment to think of something. “Alright, I'm not as good at making up cheers as you. Can you do one about waking up in jail?”

Lindsey laughed at that. “Oh, come on. How many parties have we thrown and been to over the years? We haven't been busted once. This party's no different from any other one, except for being the biggest and best and most peace-disturbing!”

“If Cait mom comes for her, will help Cait run,” said Chase. “Cait mom fast, but am more fast. No foe catch me. Cait ride on back!”

Caitlin's redheaded captain put her arm around her slim shoulders. “You have my word, Cait, this party's going to be awesome,” promised Alicia. “Everyone's going to have a great time, your mom's NOT gonna find out, and none of us are going to jail! Alright?”

By her friends' coaxing, Caitlin reluctantly relaxed her grip on her worries and allowed her friends to push them aside. She smiled. “Yeah...you're right. You're all right. I guess I'm just being paranoid.”

…....

Although most of their guests would have probably disagreed, the teens felt they'd need more than just a keg for a successful party, so in the late afternoon they made a last-minute run out to the convenience store for supplies.

“Okay, we are definitely out of red solo cups...” said Alicia, grabbing a one-hundred pack off the top shelf and dropping it into her shopping basket. “What else? Lindsey, did you bring the list?”

“Oh yeah, let me grab it,” said Lindsey, pulling a piece of lined paper out of her pocket. She unfolded it, cleared her throat, and started to read. “Living room. Attic. Downstairs bathroom. Upstairs bathroom. Dad's office.” She glanced up. “I guess just stop me when you hear one that's a no-go, okay? Kitchen.”

“Lindsey, what the hell are you talking about?” asked Caitlin.

“It's a list of rooms in Alicia's house. I want her to tell me which ones I'm allowed to have sex in at the party tonight,” the blonde explained.

There was brief pause. “What?!” Alicia and Caitlin shouted.

“Lindsey, gross!” admonished Caitlin.

Alicia put a hand to her face. “I can't even... what about the SHOPPING list?! I was obviously talking about the shopping list!”

“Oh, I left that at your house,” said Lindsey, looking indignant. “If it was SO obvious, why did I think you were talking about the sex room list?”

“That's something you need to discuss with our school counselor,” replied Caitlin.

Lindsey looked down at her list. “That may very well be, but, Alicia, now that we're on the subject, I think it's important you and I make time to go over this. Last time we had a slight misunderstanding...”

“I figured it went without saying my parents' bed was off limits!”

Lindsey looked at her with approval, as though Alicia had made some kind of breakthrough. “Right! And that was what you misunderstood! This time, we need to establish some hard and fast ground rules.”

“Am back,” said Chase. “Them no have glow sticks.”

“Oh well, thanks for looking,” said Alicia.

“Chase, you weigh in on this. This concerns you too,” appealed Lindsey. “Let's say Torey crashes the party, and you and him really enjoy yourselves and start having fun, and decide to... y'know. Wouldn't you like to know beforehand where you can do it?”

Chase scratched her head. “Who know? Where do what?”

Caitlin protectively intervened on Chase's behalf. “D-don't go putting ideas in her head!” She scolded.

They were interrupted by the sound of smug chuckling. The girls looked to their left and slightly downward, and saw Victoria standing there, arms crossed confidently.

“Oh! Hi, Victoria!” said Alicia cheerfully.

Victoria eyed the cups in the redhead's hands. “Getting supplies for that party of yours, huh?” asked Victoria dismissively. “I hadn't realized you were still going through with that.”

The captain gave a quick, eager nod. “Yep! You know, despite what you said earlier, you're still welcome to come! Six o'clock, my place!”

The tiny blonde laughed. “As if! I'm still doing MY party, and it's still going to blow yours out of the water!” She suddenly fell silent, covering her mouth. Acting contrite, but her voice saturated with sarcasm, she said, “Oh no. I'm sorry, I completely forgot. Your party doesn't HAVE any water.” Victoria's family had a pool.

“It's too cold this time of year for a pool party anyway,” said Lindsey.

“Oh, it's heated,” Victoria smugly assured her. “Everyone who's anyone is going to be there. All of Sunnycrest High's social elite.” She looked at the cups on the shelf. “In fact, that's why I'm here. I bought a hundred pack earlier, but it looks like I'll need another one.”

“Wow, are there really going to be that many people?” asked Caitlin, impressed.

Nonchalantly inspecting her nails, Victoria answered, “Oh, at least. I still have a couple invitations left, though, and I suppose if you all asked me nicely I could be persuaded to part with them.”

Alicia offered a charitable smile. “Well, thank you, Victoria, but we're going to be too busy with our own party! I hope yours goes well, though! Do a cannonball for me!”

This response pissed Victoria off to an inexplicable extent. “I most certainly will not! Hmph!” She turned to the shelf and reached for the cups. “You know what?! I don't think another hundred will be enough after all! I think I need two hundred, or even three! What do you think of that?”

After watching Victoria strain on her tiptoes for a moment, Alicia took a pack off the shelf and held them out for her. Victoria turned red, then snatched them away. “Y-you're going to regret missing this party!” she concluded. “When you're all alone at your house, and everybody at school Monday is talking about how much fun they had in my pool, you're going to wish you took me up on my offer!”

She turned and stomped away, in a complete and utter huff. Alicia sighed.

“You're way too nice to her,” criticized Lindsey. “I get that you want to be diplomatic, but seriously, one of these days you need to tell her to just fuck off.”

Alicia shook her head. “Nah, that wouldn't do any of us any good...That's just her personality,” she said. “A big part of being a good leader is learning to work with all different types of personalities so we're all moving toward the same goal. If I were to do something like that, it would create friction between us, which would be bad for the squad.” She gave a weary smile. “Besides, don't forget, she's a senior. We're still juniors. If she wants to razz us a little, hey, that's how it goes.”

“Melissa C.'s a senior and she doesn't treat us like that,” Caitlin pointed out.

Chase was looking introspective. “Vic much want us there,” she said with regret. “Not say with words, but sad Vic from no us.”

“She'll be fine,” said Lindsey, with the same lack of concern as when Victoria got stuck in quicksand on a field trip that one time.