My last class of the day is Seminar. It's basically a built in study hall where you can work on whatever homework you need to. Since it's the first day of school and we haven't been bombarded with work yet, Payton, Kelly, Rachel, Claire and I head to a secluded corner in the library to chat.

"Guys, you all should have signed up for weight training with Lila and I. Best class ever! You could've watched Lila be a total Boss Babe and take down not only Tanner but TJ too during class! It was epic!" Kelly gushes to the others.

"Wait what? We need more explanation pronto. Give us all the deets!" Payton says urgently.

"Ok so this is how it happened. Our class was combined with the boys weight training class today. Ms. H and Coach B needed to get all our baselines so they split us into groups. Lila and I were unfortunately placed into a group with Tanner. Per usual he was asking like a complete slimeball. When he tried to put the moves on Lila during our wall sits Lila acted like the true Queen that she is and shut that sorry boy down! This dude thought he could put hands on her and then beat her, well he was very wrong. The look on his face when he got a cramp and fell off the wall was priceless! It's a moment I will replay in my head over and over every time he annoys me."

"No way! That's awesome!" Payton says.

"Just wait, it gets even better, Pay! After that, just before class was over Ms. H picked Lila out of all the girls in our class to face off with TJ at the rope climb. Once again, our girl took the challenge head on and left him in her dust. Lila you're quickly turning into a legend at this school!"

"Dang girl, only your first day and you already managed to shut up Tanner? You are a legend!" Rachel high fives me. "I would've paid good money to see you beat that egotistical moron."

"I agree!" Claire seconds the high five. "Tanner really is the worst. Good job Lila!"

"Thanks, it really wasn't that big'a deal..." I say modestly. "But you should have seen his face when I switched to one leg." I let out a belly laugh and the girls do the same.

It feels completely natural to laugh with these four. I don't feel like the new girl around them, I feel completely myself which is the best feeling I've had all day, heck maybe even all year.

"I'm not sure what makes me more sad, missing you shut down Tanner or beating my brother at something athletic?! TJ's ego is out of control this year. Finally being a senior, captain of the football team and having all the girls at this school drooling over him definitely has gone to his head. I don't think it could get any bigger. I'm so happy you were able to knock him down a few notches for me Lila." Payton says with approval.

I try to cover my blush with a smile and laugh. If only Payton really knew how I felt about her brother. Gulp.

"Brothers...what would they do without sisters to bring them back down to earth?" I say trying to hide my school girl crush from my new friends, especially Payton.

"Cheers to that!" Payton and I 'toast' our water bottles together across the table.

"I agree 100% with you Payton, but still you've gotta admit... Your brother is super hot." Kelly says with an unapologetic shrug.

Payton throws her pen at Kelly who ducks out of the way before it can hit her.

"Gross. Don't make me gag. You guys have been my best friends forever. You've grown up with TJ like a brother and seen him through all his awkward phases just like I have. I don't know how you could possibly think that way." Payton says in disgust.

"Yeah yeah I know, you can calm down! All I'm saying is he's nice to look at. I would never try anything with him because you're one of my best friends and girl code obviously......but it doesn't mean I hate seeing him with his shirt off at your summer cottage." Kelly pumps her eyebrows.

Rachel and Claire snicker under their breath while Payton crosses her arms over her chest in a mock pout.

"Oh lighten up Pay, you know Kelly is just joking." Rachel says.

"It's still gross though." Payton tries to hide her smile.

If it wasn't clear to me before, it definitely is now. Tyler Johnson is 100% off limits. Payton obviously wouldn't like having one of her friends date her brother so it's probably better for me to stuff my feelings down. Which is fine, it's not like Tyler would ever go for someone like me anyways. He's a senior that's got his pick of any girl in this school. Why would he be interested in someone like me? Starting now I vow to push any Tyler thoughts out of my mind. That shouldn't be too hard, right?

****

: Staying after school to check out the varsity cheerleading practice. I've met some friends who want to recruit me. I'll explain more later. Be home by dinner. Love you ❤️

: Cheer practice? These must be some good friends you've met for you to consider that! Can't wait to hear about your first day. See you later honey. Love you 💕

When we get to practice the girls introduce me to the rest of their team. Everyone seems really cool. They stretch out and start warming up their skills while I watch. Payton didn't lie, they are good. I've only been watching them for a few minutes but I'm already impressed. When their coach walks in a few minutes later Payton wastes no time introducing us.

"Hi coach! Told you I could get Lila here. You're gonna love her!" Payton says excitedly and then leaves her coach and I alone to talk.

"Lila, so glad you decided to join us today. My name is Coach Kim." We shake hands. "Payton hasn't stopped talking about you for two weeks. I hear you have some state gymnastics titles under your belt?"

"Nice to meet you too......Yeah, Payton seems to have told everyone about my past gymnastics accomplishments." I smile towards Payton before I continue. "I've been a gymnast for a long time. My old gymnastics team went to States both my Freshman and Sophomore years and we did well. I hope Payton told you I've never cheered before though and wouldn't know where to begin. I've honestly never considered something like this before. I'm not naturally the kind of person that likes to have a lot of attention on them." I admit honestly.

"Oh don't worry about that. We can teach you anything you need to know. I promise it's not as scary as it seems either. If you're used to the pressure of winning state titles as a gymnast then I'm confident you're much more mentally tough then you're giving yourself credit for." Coach Kim says with a genuine smile. "I'm not sure if Payton shared with you, but we also compete at the state level. We lost several of our best tumblers after last year. We could really use a talent like yourself to help bring us back to States if you're open to it."

"Payton and some of the other girls filled me in a little bit. Sounds like you have built quite the legacy. Thank you for thinking of me, that's a real honor. I'll have to talk with my parents before I decide anything but I'm open to the idea, I think."

Payton has been easdropping on mine and Coach Kim's conversation this whole time. I catch her doing a little happy dance out of the corner of my eye. She is totally getting what she wants right now and knows it.

"Of course Lila, no pressure! We are happy to have you join us for the season but if not that's ok too. Let's just start with today and see what you think. We'll run practice like normal to give you a little taste of what we do and you can decide from there with your parents."

"That sounds great, thanks."

Coach Kim calls out to her team. "Alright ladies, two minute warning. You need to be fully warmed up and ready to start in two minutes."

Since it's football season Payton explained to me how the girls are working on their sideline Homecoming routine. It's something they will perform at the Pep Assembly and Homecoming Game in a few weeks. I sit off to the side and watch each of the girls finish their warm up.

"Lila, how would you feel about doing some cross tumbling with the team to kick off practice? I thought it might be a fun way to break the ice." Coach Kim asks me.

"Um sure. I may be a little rusty since I haven't practiced in awhile, but that sounds nice."

"Perfect! Everybody head to the corners for cross tumbling. Let's show Lila what we can do!" Coach Kim calls to her team."

We split into four groups, one at each corner of the large rectangle mat. Everyone takes turns doing their tumbling pass of choice across the mat while everybody else watches. Coach Kim turns the music up and it's a fun way to show off what each person has been working on. I'm at the end of the line behind Payton. I'm doing some stretches in line while I wait for my turn when she turns to me.

"You ready?! It's almost your time to shine Lila! Don't be nervous and do whatever pass you want. Just have fun with it, ok?!"

"I think I can handle that."

A moment later it's Payton's turn. She does a round off spring tuck with very pretty form. After she does her pass there are two more corners then me. I clear my mind of all distractions like I have so many times before at competitions. I take a deep breath in then let it out, narrowing my focus to the rhythm of my heartbeat. I watch the last athlete cross in front of me, now it's my turn. Muscle memory takes over when I charge from the corner with power. This is where I feel most alive. My hands bounce off the mat defying gravity when I pull a handspring, handspring, full twisting layout. When I stick the landing and look up everyone is cheering. A giant smile appears on my face. I'd forgotten how much I missed this part of me. I've been so distracted with my emotions about the move that I hadn't realized until now how badly I crave being apart of a team and competing. It's at this moment I know I'm meant to be a Romeo Cheerleader. I may have no clue how to be one, but I miss this feeling too much to not be back on the mat in some way.