Keep up the smile, just smile. No matter how many times Juniper chanted the words to herself she couldn't stop the fatigue slowly setting into her muscles. The constant pep for nearly two and a half hours was weighing on her.

The home team went running by and she joined the other cheerleaders in shaking their pompoms and screaming at the top of her lungs. She could add sore throat to the list of body pains. At least the gym had a recovery room and all sports players had free access.

Another run took the ball a few more yards and finally away from directly in front of them. They took the opportunity to chug from their water bottles and stretch sore limbs. The bench called her name like a siren's song. Resting now would mean she was never getting up.

The crowd cheered loudly from both sides of the field but her ear plugs muffled it to acceptable levels. It was the motion that caught her eye. Someone was waving their arms over their head looking like a deflating balloon. Juniper snorted, nearly spitting out her water.

Sherman was in the front row and she couldn't fathom how he'd managed such a prime seat. Once he had her attention his arms returned to his sides and he switched to a casual wave.

"You made it," she said just loud enough to be heard over the crowd. With a quick brush of her hands she tugged both ear plugs out. She grabbed the top rail of the stands and hauled herself up to eye level with him.

The brim of his bucket hat obscured a good portion of his face, the edge brushing his glasses frames. It was the worst secret agent disguise she'd ever seen. Between that and the oversized jacket he stood out like a sore thumb.

"I had to come see what all the fuss was about," Sherman said. He leaned forward on the railing beside her with his arms crossed over the metal bar. "It's a lot of jumping."

"I hope that's not coming as a shock to you," Juniper said.

"Not so much," he said.

Out on the field the ball reached the thirty-yard line and people started screaming. Juniper turned with one hand on the railing to keep her balance. They were on their second down and in a good position to run the final distance. She sighed and tucked an ear plug back into place in preparation.

"Back to work?" Sherman guessed.

"It never really stops," she said. "There's an afterparty later, win or lose, but they're pretty fun. You should come."

"I don't know... not really my scene," Sherman mumbled. The roar of the crowd practically drowned him out but a frown didn't need audio. He took a step back from her, nearly elbowing another spectator's drink. At the last second Juniper dragged him back forward.

She kept a hold of his warm hand a moment longer. "It's not a bad scene, and there's usually video games," she said in a sing-song voice.

"Are you trying to tempt me with video games?" Sherman sputtered.

"Trying and succeeding?" she asked, fluttering her lashes at him. The crowd started screaming in earnest and Juniper jammed in her second earplug before he could answer. "Just come!" Then she jumped down and sprinted to rejoin the rest of her squad in their cheer.

Their team ended up losing in spectacular fashion after two flags and an amazing interception from the opposing team. Juniper and the rest of the cheerleaders snuck out through a back exit where the crowd wouldn't be able to see them. Ever since a fan had taken his disappointment out on the cheerleaders over a decade ago the team had developed strategies for leaving after both wins and losses.

Of the two, Juniper hated the losses more. People loved to have someone to blame.

"I'm pretty sure I strained something," Gigi said, dropping onto one of the benches in the locker room. She flopped back along the narrow plank dramatically with one leg propped up. Another woman shoved her leg to the side so she could sit and pull her sneakers off. "Rude."

"Gigi, go get some ice," Juniper said, trying her best not to laugh. There was plenty of strain in her own muscles but the fear of sitting and never getting back up was still strongly at the front of her mind. She changed slowly back into a pair of loose jeans and a plain shirt, nothing that put pressure on her muscles.

Across the locker room some of the other squad members were discussing going anywhere besides the after party. Losing the first game of the school year was a heavy blow to the morale of anyone involved. Juniper had half a mind to join them for drinks somewhere with far less yelling.

The problem was, she'd practically begged Sherman to come to that party. If he actually showed up and she was nowhere to be seen...

Juniper dismissed the thought. She'd be there, set the example for sportsmanship and all that.

The squad left the room in small groups, some going to their cars and a larger amount than Juniper had expected took off in the direction of the sports rec room nearby. Earlier she'd seen the players stocking it with food and drinks.

Of the places to have a party, Juniper preferred this one, mainly because of its lack of side rooms. Everything that was going to happen had to take place in the main room in front of everyone. Even the communal bathroom with their shoddy stalls felt like it only hit the bare minimum of visual privacy.

"You're going?" Gigi said excitedly, draping her arms over Juniper's neck from behind. Sweat still clung to her arms where they now stuck to Juniper's skin.

"Yeah, why not?" she shrugged. The movement dislodged Gigi enough for Juniper to grab her hand. They joined the small crowd filtering towards the rec room and the surrounding lawn.

Once inside, Gigi ran off to find the drinks. Most nights everyone was careful not to give the underage students liquor. The fastest way to get a good thing shut down was to get the wrong people drunk. However, most nights weren't happening right after losing the first game of the season.

The music is thumping, vibrating through her sternum. People meandered around her, some leaned in to say hello with a shout to be heard over the music. A strong hand cupped her elbow and made her jump. She turned to shoot an annoyed look at Sherman.

"You're actually here?" she said. Together they slip into a quieter spot by an open window. A cool breeze washed over them. It was nearly frigid compared to the stuffy room.

Sherman shrugged, crossing his arms over the windowsill to lean against it. "Someone told me I should," he said.

"Smart woman," Juniper added.

"You think it was you?" he asked, stifling a laugh. One of his hands nearly slipped when she shoved him playfully. "I kid, I kid. Of course it's you." He reaches past her to snag a drink from the cooler on the table.

It opens with a loud hiss and immediately starts to foam. Frothy liquid spills over his hand, no doubt leaving a sticky residue. Sherman pressed his lips to the opening, trying to staunch the flow. All he managed to do was to send the drink burning down his throat and make him cough right after.

Without a word, Juniper pulls a handful of paper napkins from another table and presses them into his hands. "You're kind of a mess," she joked.

One eyeroll and several napkins later he's mostly cleaned up. "It's like they shook all the drinks because they lost," Sherman said, just audible over the crowd.

"They probably did," Juniper said. The share the pain attitude wasn't uncommon for the school's teams. Last year on their first loss they'd set off fireworks outside the dorms at three in the morning. It had been finals week and anyone not up cramming had been trying to get a few hours of shuteye. This was tame by comparison.

Juniper grabbed her own drink and tapped her nails along the bottom. Across the room people pushed furniture aside making an open area. A small television screen flickered on and two microphones were produced.

"Oh hey, they're going to do karaoke," she said. Then she reached for his hand to pull him forward. It was indeed sticky. That didn't explain why he didn't move a muscle.

"Not for me, thanks. I'll watch from back here," Sherman said quickly. He was smiling but his eyes were wide, the whites too visible. "I'll watch your drink."

"No, you have to sing. It doesn't matter if you suck," she said insistently. Again she pulled at his hand. This time it slid free as he took a hurried step back. "Sherman?"

The man shrugged, shoulders staying high by his ears. In a few short steps he'd woven through the crowd and out the door, leaving Juniper with a sticky hand and her own unopened drink.