Chapter 1

Ten months had passed since I entered a new school in the middle of the second school year. 

What petrified me back then was that everyone else had already gotten to know each other and once again, I was the odd one out. 

I had a clear plan of what I should do, though, and having something to focus on made the adjustment period easier to handle. 

When we moved to Crestview, I’d heard rumors of a certain someone and how being on her good side could help me out in the long run. 

Easy—peasy. No worries and all that. 

Well — expect the one little thing that did, in fact, worry me. 

I’d learned I would most likely have to join the school cheerleading team in order to rub shoulders with her.

The closest thing I had ever done to cheerleading was a bit of ballroom dancing, and that was almost a decade ago.

Weird thing is, there were people auditioning who were leagues above me in every aspect that should decide if you make it in the team and yet I was the one to pass. 

Strength, stamina, keeping up to the rhythm, stunts — hell, even letting go and fully throwing yourself into it are all what you'd think would decide if you make it past auditions or not.

But as it turns out, the fact I probably looked like a stiff weathervane and can't even do the splits without someone helping me weren’t deal breakers.

This being said, I know my "likable" and adaptable personality, along with a good poker face have their perks and factored into me being chosen. 

How come?

I said nothing when the team's leader Kel asked what we thought of the truthfully absurd choreography they expected us to learn for the audition. 

Even the ones who did it exactly as instructed looked like unsupervised toddlers running around, fueled by enough caffeine to give a heart attack to a middle aged construction worker as Kel’s boombox blasted smooth jazz of all possible genres of music.

Kel looked over us, a clear look of disdain plastered on her face. She was as serious as could be, correcting those of us who kept messing up, telling us to do better or we’re out. 

The absurdity of it all made me think back on what I’d eaten that day, or if I’d accidentally face planted on and ingested a heaping pile of some form of an illegal substance, because nothing could've prepared me for it.

So, I was certain I only got my spot in the team because I was further up Kel’s ass than many others.

It was not a surprise to me, though. I was new in the school but well aware of the social structure of the team — anyone who glanced in its direction would at least have a hunch of who's calling the shots. 

Those people, people like Kel, are easy to spot.

I will admit my first impression already started forming when I signed up for my audition and I noticed what I presumed to be Kel’s full name right at the top of the signup form.

Ah, she's a Keller? That explains the nickname.

I found it strange how I had heard noone refer to her by her first name. I tried to ask someone about it, and they cut me off before I could even finish my sentence, absolutely petrified at the mention of Kel’s name. 

Color me baffled, but it only took a few minutes in her presence for it all to make perfect sense. 

It seemed I’d found the person I was looking for.