FULL NOVELXO Class Act: Chapter 33
here?
I sipped my Coke, crammed into the booth between the other cheerleaders. We’d had an at-home game, and we’d lost. The defeat had been brutal. Nothing seemed to have gone right on the field, and I hadn’t been able to concentrate on my steps. I’d seen how anxious and tense Abe had been throughout the game, how the loss devastated him, and I hadn’t even been able to sneak off to console him during the game.
It wasn’t my idea to come here, but our coach had insisted that since it was my last time cheering, I should go with the group to this diner. She wanted me to tell the others I wouldn’t be a part of the team anymore rather than to leave without an explanation.
Not that any of it mattered. The other cheerleaders would probably sigh in relief, and since Mandy and I barely talked anymore, maybe she would even be relieved.
Instead of sitting next to her as usual, I’d claimed a spot on the other side of the table. She didn’t chatter like the other girls, though. Like me, she was quiet, munching on fries and looking like someone had stolen her puppy.
I lowered my gaze. It was all my fault she was so unhappy. If I had never hooked up with her dad, Abe wouldn’t have fallen for me. But Mandy was the one who’d helped push us together. Who’d insisted on Abe taking me home that night my father had hurt my ribs. And if I’d listened to her when she offered, I would still be living under their roof, with Abe sneaking into my bed in the middle of the night and likely getting caught.
No, none of this was her fault. She’d been nice to me. She was a good person, and I hated that my actions hurt her.
I took a bite of my burger, but it could have been sandpaper for how dry and bland it was. Could Mandy really accept Abe and me? She was responding a bit better to Abe these days, but she still gave her father the cold shoulder. They had a long way to go. I dared not think about how she would treat us both when she found out I was the reason for her parents’ split. That I was the reason he no longer slept at home, even if most of his things were still there.
Over the past week, since he’d gotten us the house, he spent most of the time there with me. He left early in the morning, though, and went back home to change and make sure Mandy went to school. On alternating days, he had dinner with me and Mandy. Since Teresa was still rarely home and didn’t cook, he didn’t want Mandy to feel like she was on her own. As much as I loved having him with me, I felt less guilty when he was with Mandy.
If only Mandy knew about us. Then she could hang out with us and have dinner at our place. And Abe wouldn’t have to wear himself out trying to please both of us. He looked so worried every time he left the house, like he thought I would get angry and leave him. And while I would never do that, it felt good knowing someone valued me so much that they worried about me leaving.
I’d never had that before.
“What’s up with you two?” Kendra waved her hand between Mandy and me. The chatter around the table stopped, and everyone looked at us. “Did you two have a fight or something? You’re acting weird.”
Mandy’s gaze clashed with mine, and we both glanced away. “Nothing’s wrong,” I said. “We’re fine, but I have something I want to say.”
“Don’t you always?” someone mumbled. “We’re the actual girls on the squad, and I swear people talk about you more than they do the rest of us.”
“Shut up, Ruby,” Mandy shot back. “It’s hardly Emery’s fault he’s an excellent dancer. Why do you have to always be so bitter and mean to him?”
She didn’t hate me, then. A wave of guilt crashed over me. I’d been avoiding her, turning her down whenever she asked if I wanted to hang out. But what else could I do? Wasn’t it better to distance myself from her before she would loathe me? I had trouble smiling at her and pretending everything was fine when mere hours before her dad had been in my bed, doing all sorts of filthy things to me.
Yeah, it was definitely better to stay away.
“It’s fine, Mandy,” I said. “I know not everyone wanted me on the team when I joined, but thanks for giving me a shot anyway. Unfortunately, this will be my last game with you. I’m quitting cheerleading.”
“You’re quitting?” Tatiana squeaked. “But why? Is it because of Ruby? Because most of us don’t feel the way she does.”
“It’s not because of Ruby, though she could benefit from being more open-minded. Me being a part of the cheer squad took nothing away from anyone.”
“Except Ruby used to be the popular one before you took the spotlight,” Kendra said.
“Well, the spotlight’s all hers again. I already talked to Ms. Reid about it. She wanted me to tell everyone in person, which is why I’m here.” I placed a few bills on the table to cover my meal. “And no, this has nothing to do with Mandy. I just have a lot going on right now, and cheerleading clashes with my work hours.”
Working at a restaurant for minimum wage wasn’t exactly what I wanted to do, but it was a start. And I’d smile my ass off for great tips.
I must contribute so Abe doesn’t have to handle everything on his own.
“That’s a pity. You were really good at coming up with routines, Emery,” Tatiana said.
“Thanks, but I think you’ll all be fine. I have to go. I’ll see you guys around school, then. See you on Monday.”
But would I? I had no reason to sit at the cheerleaders’ table in the cafeteria. I doubt they would have me now that I wasn’t a part of the squad anymore.
“Emery, wait!”
Footsteps pounded after me. I turned. Mandy was running up to me. She halted a couple of feet away, farther than she used to do. And it hurt. We always hugged and walked arm in arm and fooled around. I clenched my car keys so tightly they dug into my palm. I was no longer that Emery, Mandy’s bestie. I was the one who stole her mother’s husband.
“Are you really going to quit cheerleading?” she asked. “You love being a part of the team.”
“I did. It was something I’d wanted to do but always been afraid to put myself out there like that. I’m glad I got the opportunity, but now I feel like I’ve outgrown it.” Since being with Abe, certain things I always thought were important no longer mattered.
“It’s because of me, isn’t it? I was a horrible friend to you, and you’re quitting now because you hate me.”
“I don’t hate you. Why would you think that?”
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
She wasn’t wrong. I licked my lips. “Things were rough, and you had your drama with your dad to figure out while I was going through issues with mine. We needed to be apart to sort our own shit out.”
“I was thoughtless. You’re homeless, and I was worried about my parents’ stupid divorce.”
“Yeah, well, no need to worry. I’ve got a place I can stay.”
“Yes?” Her face lit up. “Where is it? Maybe we can hang out sometime like we used to.”
“Umm, it’s a bit too soon, but I’ll let you know when you can come over.”
She frowned. “Why are you being so difficult and pushing me away? I said I was sorry.”
“It’s not you, I swear.” I brushed a lock of hair from her face. Would our friendship ever be the same again? Likely not. “There’s some stuff I’m still dealing with.”
“Maybe I can help.”
“I need to work it out on my own.”
Well, with your dad, but I can’t tell you that.
“Okay then, if that’s what you prefer.”
Her eyes were full of hurt, and she turned away.
“Mandy.”
She spun around. “Yes?”
“I’m really, really sorry. I swear I didn’t mean for things to happen this way.”
“What are you talking about?”
“One day it’ll make sense, and I can only hope you don’t hate me for it.”
“Emery?”
I got into my car and slammed the door shut, my eyes filling with tears. I wiped them away and started the car. My heart broke at the sight of her in the rearview mirror—just standing there, confused and sad.
I’m really sorry, Mandy. Sorry I can’t tell you what a wonderful man your father is to me.
With a sigh, I pushed our conversation to the back of my mind and drove home to my man. Abe’s car was in the driveway, the motor running. I parked right behind him, turned off the ignition, and jumped out.
Was something wrong?
I knocked at the driver’s side window. The door cracked an inch, and I stepped back as he came out.
“What’s wrong? Why are you—uff.”
Abe tugged me into his arms and hugged me tight. The game. He must still be upset about that.
“Hey, it’s fine. You had a bad night, that’s all.”
“I know,” he said into my neck. “But it was fucking awful. My team’s never played like that before. What the hell did I do wrong?”
I pulled back and cupped his face. “Just a bad game, Abe. It sucks to lose, but your team will bounce back. This is just a temporary setback.”
“This was on our own turf. We played our hearts out during the season, and the moment we got to perform for our fans, we played the most horrible game I’ve ever seen in years.”
“Oh, Abe. Am I going to have to distract you tonight? I hate seeing you being so hard on yourself.”
“Did I somehow slack off because of the new job opportunity?”
“Now stop right there.” I jammed a finger into his chest. “You trained your team hard every day, and I should know because during cheerleading practice, I focused more on you than my own moves. You never slacked off one bit, so let’s be kind to yourself tonight.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Anything you want, we’ll do.”
“Anything?” He slipped his arms around me and slid his hands under the cheerleading skirt I was still wearing.
“Yes, anything.” I jumped, and he caught me, my legs around his waist. “Can you think of something?”
“Your skirt is distracting. Now I’m thinking…”
“Thinking what?”
“That I’ve never fucked you wearing your cheerleading outfit before. And since it’s your final game…”
“It’s mine to keep, you know. I can whip it out any time.”
“Since you’re already wearing it…” He settled his mouth over mine, and I slipped my fingers in his hair, angling my head to kiss him back. If a distraction was what he needed, I knew exactly how to give him that.
Abe’s hands under my skirt tightened on my ass cheeks. “I wish I dared to fuck you right here against the car,” he murmured against my lips. “But that’s probably not a good idea. Let’s go in.”
I giggled and kissed his jaw. “Sounds fun, though, but the neighbors would probably call the cops. Then we’d get arrested for indecent exposure.”
“Yeah, hold on tight to me, baby. I’m going to try to make it to the bedroom.”
We didn’t.
We made it to the staircase, where I rode him until he came inside me and forgot everything but how good I made him feel.