Chapter 2 No.2

Why does math class go by so slow?

We currently have five minutes until we can leave this horrid classroom.

Not to be dramatic, but these feel like the longest five minutes of my life.

"Hey, babe" Megan casually says with a smile as she stops in front of my table

Ever since my diagnosis, Megan has constantly been flirting with me. She tried to pursue me once, but I rejected her since I don't like her in that way.

My heart only belongs to one person.

"Belleza, this is my friend, Megan" I say as Megan politely reaches her hand out for a handshake

Belleza's face is emotionless as she gives Megan a single head nod before closing her eyes and leaning her head back.

Megan's eyes widen in realization for a split second before she quickly composes herself and turns towards me.

"Will I see you at cheer tryouts after school?" She asks as she plasters a smile back on her face

"Yep, I wouldn't miss it" I say as a smile makes its way onto my face

"Great" she says before she retreats back to her desk

That was weird.

Does she know Belleza?

Does Belleza know her?

I'm so confused.

-

The bell finally rings to release us to lunch.

I practically jump out of my seat with a joyful attitude which causes Avery to laugh at me.

"Someone's happy" She teases as she hands me by backpack

"Damn right I am" I state as I grab it from her hand and slip it over my shoulder

Oh shit.

I forgot that Belleza was still here.

I slowly turn around to face her only to see her watching me with an amused facial expression.

"Please, pretend like you didn't hear that" I beg which makes her chuckle

She slowly walks up to me and gazes deeply into my eyes as she slowly brings her hand up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"You're cute" She states

Great!

I'm blushing again!

"Come on, the hallway is mostly clear" I hear Avery say to us from the doorway

When did she get there?!

I silently oblige as I quickly walk out into the hallway and make my way towards my locker. I need to switch out my textbooks so that I won't have to fight my way through the hallway to do it later.

After lunch is when everyone chooses to go to their lockers, well the ones that have lockers.

As I'm in the middle of switching them out I hear someone walk up to me.

"What's on your mind?" Belleza questions as she stops beside me

"I just miss my best friend" I say with a sad smile

The more I get to know her, the more Belleza kind of reminds me of Charlotte.

The way that they both casually stroll when they walk as if they have all the time in the world.

The way that they both care so fondly about others.

Plus they both have very kind hearts.

"But Avery is in the cafeteria" she says as she points in the direction of the lunchroom

I smile with humor as I close my locker and face her.

She towers over me with her five foot seven inch frame.

You may be wondering how short I am.

I'm five foot two inches.

"No, my other friend, Charlotte" I say as I lean my body against my locker

She nods her head as she also leans against a random locker.

"Do you mind telling me about her?" She asks

I smile as a multitude of memories of Charlotte and I's childhood come to mind.

"She's one of the most creative people that I know," I start off as I think about the time her and I tried to bake a cake in fifth grade

"Charlotte, What are you doing?" I ask her as I see her pouring a box of cereal inside of our icing

"Since we're making a cinnamon roll cake wouldn't it be cool to incorporate cinnamon flavored cereal in the recipe" she says as she faces me with a streak of flour across her face

Aww.

She's so cute.

"Good idea" I say as I sit on a barstool across from her and watch her work her magic

What isn't this girl talented at?!

She's a true blessing.

"She's very smart but math is her favorite subject," I say with a slight laugh as I reminisce on another memory

I still find it funny how she loves math but I can't stand it.

I walk into Charlotte's room while balancing two glasses of water and a plate of nachos.

What?

I got hungry.

"Um, a little help" I say since I'm afraid that I might drop something

Most importantly my nachos.

"Really, Aspen, we've been over this" she says as she pushes her math textbook off her lap and walks over to me

She's scolded me on multiple occasions about carrying more than I can handle.

I thought that I could handle it.

She grabs a glass of water from my hand and the plate of nachos.

"I know but thank you" I say with an appreciative smile

"How can I stay mad at such a cutie" she teases which causes me to blush

"She's also amazingly beautiful" I finish with a blush

I catch myself staring at my best friend with admiration for the fifth time today.

Her blonde hair is flowing freely thanks to the light breeze.

Her bright green eyes are currently closed as she relaxes on our picnic blanket.

The angle of the sun makes her appear as if she was an angel from above.

She slowly opens her eyes and smiles at me.

"I can feel you staring" she says

I blush as I look down at my lap and nervously fidget with my fingers

My thoughts are interrupted by Belleza's gentle tone.

"She means a lot to you?" she asks causing me to let out a single chuckle as I nod my head

"More than anyone would know" I say as I continue to stare up into her eyes and wonder where the hell Charlotte was anyway.

-

The end of the school day came faster than expected.

Not that I'm complaining.

I can finally go to cheer tryouts.

I make sure to quickly stop by my locker so that I can grab my cheer bag before making my way towards the gym.

"Aspen, nice to see you again" my previous cheer coach says with a smile

"You too" I reply as I make my way towards the locker rooms

I see almost all of the girls from last season changing along with some new girls.

I make my way towards the corner of the bench before I start to strip and change into my cheer clothes.

I replace my skirt with a black pair of Nike pros and I paired my Nike pros with a black T-shirt. I also changed out of my wedges and put on a pair of Nfinity cheer shoes.

Since we're required to wear a bow tryouts I quickly brush my hair into a low ponytail before securing it with a hair tie and clipping a black bow onto it.

I exit the locker room and make my way towards the mats where some of the girls were stretching.

"Aspen, over here" Avery says from the middle of the mat

I smile as I quickly make my way towards her.

I sit down across from her and start to stretch my legs.

"Did you hear the most recent news about Belleza?" Avery questions as she goes down into the splits and tries to reach for her back leg

"No, I just got here" I say as I go into a straddle stretch

She takes a deep breath as she pulls herself up and places her forehead to her front knee.

"I heard that she might be trying out for volleyball" Avery says as she maneuvers her body out of the splits and into a butterfly stretch

"Oh, that's interesting" I reply as I maneuver my body into the splits

I didn't know that she liked volleyball.

But I guess it'll be cool that we'd cheer at her matches.

Well if we make the team.

"Okay girls, gather around" our coach says

All of us make our way towards her and stand around her.

"I'll be grading you on flexibility, sharpness, and attitude" she announces which causes us to nod

"Great, we'll be going by last name" she says before she turns around and makes her way towards her table where she places her clipboard down.

You got this, Aspen.

You've been doing this for years.

Just pretend that you're by yourself.

-

"I'll post the roster online tonight" our coach says with a smile before she stands up from her table and leaves the gym

I look over to my left to Avery only to see her yelling at someone on the phone.

Not happily either

I walk over to her just as she ends the call with a sad facial expression.

"Is everything alright?" I ask her

"I'm sorry, Aspen, I can't drive you home. My mom just told me that as soon as she picks me up I have to go to this appointment" she says with a tone of frustration

She honestly looks like she wants to punch someone.

"It's okay, I'll just call my mom" I say

I see her visibly relax, but she still appears frustrated.

"Are you sure?" She questions

"Yes, now go" I say with a laugh as I push her towards the locker room

I slowly follow her into the locker rooms so that I can grab my bag.

I end up choosing not to change back into my original clothes as I grab my bags and put them over my shoulders.

As I exit the locker room I pull my phone out of my pocket so that I can quickly text my mom.

Hopefully she hasn't started making lunch yet.

I guess I should've been looking where I was going.

I feel my body collide with someone which causes my bags to fall to the floor as I feel myself start to lose balance.

I prepare myself to hit the floor but it never comes.

I peek my eyes open only for Belleza's face to greet me with a bright smile.

"You okay?" She asks genuinely

I gulp as I nod my head nervously.

Why am I so nervous all of a sudden?!

I've basically been talking to her all day.

She slowly helps me up back onto my own two feet. I awkwardly remove my hands from her neck as she removes hers from my hips.

"You should watch where you're going" she teases as she hands me my fallen phone

I accidentally take a peek at her current attire only for my breath to violently hitch.

She's wearing a long sleeved white T-shirt which covers her black spandex shorts. Her blonde hair is up in a messy bun but her Nike headband is holding her baby hairs away from her face.

I silently thank her as I nervously look down at my feet.

What is wrong with me, right now?!

"I- Um- I-I have to go" I stutter as I quickly grab my bags and head out of the school

Jesus Christ.

Could I have been any more dorkier?!

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow" she says with an amused tone of voice

How is she so amused by this?!

Shouldn't she feel weirded out or something?

God.

When did my life become so complicated?