We competed in the top three. I ignored the pain and just held a smile on my face as I did all of my duties as the top flyer. We were standing in a big group, everyone on the team and Coach Marcie, on the left part of the stage. Another team was standing on the right. We we’re either walking away with second or first place, and this was so nerve wrecking.

The Barbie began to talk to the crowd again, “And the winner of the California State High-School Cheerleading Competition is...” She opened up an envelope that was handed to her by the same judge that came to the door, “MISSION BAY HIGH SCHOOL!”

The crowd went wild, and the team started screaming as we ran towards the front of the stage. Abbey ended up picking me up and setting me on her shoulders for our team picture. I held up the giant trophy in the air with a grin on my face. We did it. We really fucking did it. The look on Coach Marcie’s face was priceless, she was in shock. We left the stage and ran out towards our parents, handing coach the trophy. As I walked up the row of seats I saw my mom with a huge smile on her face. Frankie was clapping like a seal. But where the hell was Mike?

Right before I was able to say hello I was stopped by a tall, brunette, “Cassandra Merjos?”

“That’s me,” I smiled.

“My name is Alison Berkley, head coach for the cheer team for University of Southern California.” I shook her hand, “Your coach had given me a phone call to come watch you perform. I’m very pleased with your talent, and I’d love to set up an interview and tour for you to check out USC.”

I grinned, my cheeks turning red as I grabbed the business card she gave me, “Thank you. I will give you a call soon.”

“We have a lot of scholarships to hand out as well, so don’t feel intimidated. I look forward to speaking with you. I will let you get to your family,” she smiled as she walked away.

Frankie hugged me, grabbing onto my leg. My face contorted due to the pain, “Frankie, please let go. Sissy is hurt.”

“I sorry,” he pouted and I kissed him on his forehead.

My mom hugged me and pressed a kiss to my cheek, “We’re getting you to the hospital. I know that was a bad fall. I’m very proud of you, Cassandra. Who were you just talking to?”

“The head coach for USC!” I shouted with a smile, “Mom, where’s Mike?”

She frowned, “He had to step outside. After he saw you fall he freaked. I’m pretty sure he’s out there smoking. He said that he would just meet up with us when we leave.”

I felt disappointed that he didn’t get to watch me. I just nodded with a sad smile, “Okay, well... let me go change and grab my bag and we can go to the hospital.”


I walked back to the dressing room and said my goodbyes to everyone and grabbed my stuff. I then met up with my mom and Frankie and limped out. Mike was leaning against my mom’s car smoking a cigarette, his hand shaking as he brought it to his lips. He saw me and threw the cigarette on the ground, stepping on it.

“Oh my god, Cassie, are you okay?” He pulled me into his arms.

I pushed him off me and got in the car. He just stared at me and got in next to me. My mom told him that we were going to the hospital. He reached for my hand and I pulled mine away from his.

“What did I do, Cass?” He asked as I looked out the window. I just shook my head and I heard him sigh. It really bothered me that he didn’t stay to find out if we were going to win.

I laid in the hospital bed as they set my knee back in place. It was one of the most disgusting feelings in the world, but it wasn’t the first time it had to be reset so I was kind of used to it. I had gotten an x-ray on my entire leg, and we hadn’t gotten the results back for it yet. My mom was sitting in a chair, talking to the guys as they were setting my knee in place, Frankie on her lap staring with a scared look on his face. Mike was in the chair right next to the bed, staring at the ground and gnawing on his lip ring. They finished up with my knee and then left the room.

The doctor came in a few minutes later with a small smile on his face, “Well I have good news. Your ankle is not broken.”

“Thank god,” I mumbled.

He chuckled, “But you do have a really bad sprain, so you are going to need to be on crutches. Your knee may need to be reset again, and will feel a little weak as well. You want to do as little physical activity as possible. So no cheerleading, running, weight-bearing exercise, etc for the next three months.” I nodded, “Physical activity can harm your body more than doing you good right now. Your right leg should be as immobile as possible.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I heard Mike grumble under his breath from his chair. I turned my head and glared.

“Is this the boyfriend?” The doctor laughed as I nodded. “I’m sure you can figure something out, son.” I saw my mom roll her eyes as Mike’s face turned red. “I’ll send a nurse in to wrap you up and fit you for crutches and then you are good to go,” the doctor smiled and walked out of the room.


Once the woman came in wrapped my ankle and gave me crutches, we were on the way home. I didn’t say anything to Mike the entire ride back, and it seemed to be bothering him quite a bit, but he deserved it. Once we got to the house he helped me up to my room and I crawled onto my bed, grabbing a blanket and wrapping it around myself.

I huffed, “I bet you have no idea that we won, Mike. We fucking won.”

“Are... are you serious?” His eyes got huge, “Oh my god, Cass. I’m so proud of you, baby.”

“Fuck it,” I shrugged. “You weren’t there to watch me win. Some supportive boyfriend you are.”

He frowned and leaned back, his head falling onto the bed. He closed his eyes and breathed out of his nose, “I feel horrible. I should’ve been there to watch you.”

“Yeah, you should’ve,” I scoffed and rolled my eyes at his response. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“Cass, I...” he started talking.

“I don’t care, Mike. It’s not like I’ve stood by your side for every single show you’ve played since we were dating, no matter if we were fighting or not. It’s not like I always go out of my way to support you in every way possible.”

“Can you just hear me out?” He said and laid next to me. He took his hand and brushed my hair from my face and tilted my chin so I would be looking at him. “I feel like shit, babe. I really do. I know you support the shit out of everything I do.” He licked over his lips, “I should have stayed in there and watched you, but I couldn’t. I felt like I couldn’t breathe after I saw you fall onto that stage. I needed to get out of there. If I didn’t get out of there, I was honestly going to pass out.” I just nodded, “I’m sorry, okay? And I know words don’t mean much, but I am truly sorry.”

I nodded and ran my hand down his face, then pulled it towards me and pressed a kiss to his lips. “I’m sorry... I just... I went out on that stage injured just to win, and I gave it my all, and all I wanted was for you to watch me and see me do it. I went in as a flyer for a different stunt group because mine sat out.”

My bedroom door slammed open and Mike and I both jolted up in bed. Abbey and Katie were standing in my room, breathing heavily. Casey and Cam were running in behind them.

“If anyone asks we’re not here!” Abbey screamed and closed the door behind Cam. She sat on the futon as Katie peeked out the window.

“What is going on?” I asked as they two girls paced around my room.

“We jumped Steph. Someone called the cops. So we ran here,” Abbey said while trying to catch her breath.

“YOU RAN TO MY HOUSE? ARE YOU FUCKING STUPID!” I screamed. “THEY’RE GOING TO COME HERE OF ALL FUCKING PLACES!”

“Leave,” Mike said while wrapping an arm around me. “You know they’re going to turn up here to question Cass.”

“We don’t know where to go!” Katie whined while sitting on Cam’s lap.

I looked over them, and saw some blood on Abbey’s shorts, “What the fuck did you do to her!”

“I think I broke her nose,” Abbey shrugged and I groaned. “Cassie, she deserves it. She fucking dropped you!”

My mom opened the door with a pissed off look on her face, “Would someone like to explain to me why there are two cop cars parked in my driveway?” Mike and I both turned our heads towards Abbey and Katie, who sunk back and bit their lips. “When they get to the door I swear to god if you’re not out of my house...”

The doorbell rang and my mom disappeared. I looked over at them, “You need to go. Now.”

“How the hell are we going to get downstairs without them seeing us?” Katie whined.

Mike ran a hand through his hair, “Go through Cass’ window. If you hop out you can walk on the roof until you get to that huge oak tree. Just climb down it. I used to do it all the time.”

“Cassandra!” My mom yelled from downstairs. “There are two men here who would like to have a word with you!

Abbey, Katie, Casey and Cam all climbed out the window. Mike shut it after them and then picked me up bridal style, being careful not to put too much pressure on the back of my knee. He carried me down the steps to the front door. Two cops stood there, one with a notepad.

“Hi, Cassie,” the cop without the notepad smiled. “My name is Deputy Rayleigh. I have a few questions for you regarding a female named Stephanie Akley.” I smiled and nodded, “So we got a call in today about an altercation between a few females you are friends with and this girl. Do you have any idea why this altercation may have happened?”

“I don’t know about any altercation, but I can imagine people are mad that she dropped me today and made me injured, as well as almost cost us our cheerleading competition.”

He nodded and the cop with the notepad wrote down my answer. “Are there any problems or past altercations between you and Ms. Akley?”

I bit my lip, “We’ve never really liked each other. She doesn’t know how to respect other’s boundaries. She told our entire school about my personal problems. Altercations... umm... At practice a few weeks ago my foot accidentally slipped and hit her in the forehead... She thought I had done it purposefully, but I assured her I didn’t.”

He nodded once again, “What do you mean by respecting boundaries?”

“She’s always tried to get with my boyfriend even though him and I have both made it clear she needs to stay away.”

“So you didn’t tell anyone to attack her because of all of this prior drama and the drama that happened today?” The cop asked.

I pursed my lips, “I just got out of the hospital and got home about a half hour ago. I haven’t even had time to change my clothes, let alone call up some friends and tell them to jump her.”

“She had told us you had threatened her today, is that true? You told her that you would break her neck?”

I sighed, “She had just explained to my coach that she didn’t catch me after my basket toss on purpose. I was in excruciating pain. It came out in anger. Are there any more questions because I’d really like to go to bed.”

“No, that is all. Thank you.”

Notes

This is a continuation of the last chapter that was updated this morning.
Be sure to read it if you didn't, or else this may be confusing.

Thank you everyone who commented!
You guys are so fab, you don't understand.

More to come in a few days.
What do you think is going to happen with the cops?
What about Mike's big freak out?

xoxoxoxo