CHAPTER V:
team spirit

( March 1986 )

AN AIR HORN BLEW ECHOING THROUGH THE GYMNASIUM, THE MARCHING BAND PLAYED THEIR PEP TUNES, AND THE CHEERLEADERS DID THEIR CHOREOGRAPHED ROUTINES. All for the Hawkins basketball team.

      Cleo stood there, her flute up to her face, pushing air out of her lungs, and already wishing the game were over before it had begun. She hadn't been too big of a basketball fan, let alone a sports fan, so anyone can imagine how much fun she was going to have for the next hour or so.

"Everyone now please stand for our national anthem." Those who weren't standing had complied with the instructions given to them. "Singing for us tonight, we have a very special guest. All the way from Nashville, our very own Tammy Thomson!" Cleo had laughed in shock as the girl entered the gymnasium. She turned around to gaze up at Robin who was sharing a just as shocked expression as she was while looking at both Cleo and Steve Harrington.

      "O say can you see, by the dawns early light," she began singing.

      "Okay, she does sound like a Muppet," Robin whispered agreeing with the statement Steve had made the past year. Cleo had snorted at this comment, immediately straightening when multiple pairs of eyes turned to her for laughing.

      "Oh my God, totally," Vickie, a clarinet, and the girl Robin had been fawning over, had agreed with a small laugh. "She sounds like Kermit," she added.

"I was thinking it was more like Miss Piggy," Robin countered. Cleo smiled inwardly to herself listening to Robin have a conversation with Vickie. Slowly, Cleo reached her palm out behind her and Robin quickly tapped it ad a high-five.

The girls continued to talk, Robin of course stumbling over her words some more, but Cleodora had zoned out sometime after they high-fived.

      THE SCORE WAS DOWN TO THE WIRE, WITH MERE SECONDS LEFT UNTIL THE GAME WAS OVER. Lucas Sinclair, a freshman that Cleo was familiar with through Steve, had gained the ball in his possession. Lucas was probably the only player on the basketball team that Cleo had respected, let alone liked.

Two seconds remained, Lucas pivoted his feet, he jumped, everyone on the court at the edge of their seats watching as he let the ball go through the air. The scoreboard lost its last second meaning that whatever happened with the ball was all they had left for the game's end. Multiple people stood as it neared the hoop until finally, after it bouncing off of the rim, it went through the hoop.

The gymnasium erupted into cheers, everyone ecstatic for Hawkins High School to have finally won a championship after so many years. Even Cleo had been cheering for Lucas.

"I've never had so much team spirit as I do right now!" she shouted, her arms up in the air for the freshman.

      AFTER THE GAME HAD COMPLETELY ENDED, STUDENTS SET THEMSELVES TO BE ON THEIR WAY HOME TO BEGIN THEIR SPRING BREAK. Steve, Robin, and Cleo had walked out of the school together, the girls with their instruments safely in their respective cases and their shakos off of their heads, and Steve fidgeting with his keys in his hands.

      The three of them had still had the adrenaline from the winning game coursing through their systems as they walked together, speaking to each other hyperactively, and then something caught Cleo's eye. Across from where they exited the gymnasium stood a small group of celebrating students. Erica, Lucas' sister, Dustin, and Mike had all been a part of that group. Then Cleo remembered there was a Hellfire campaign that night.

      She waved her hand at the boys she would be driving home that night and caught sight of Eddie standing with them. He waved back knowing it wasn't for him but doing it anyway.

"I'll see you guys later," Cleo said to Steve and Robin. They returned the goodbye and she began to meet the three boys in the middle of the parking lot safe from being in any car's way. "I'm going to assume you guys won?" she said to Mike and Dustin who seemed to be coming down from their victory high and just nodded. "Want to go somewhere to celebrate? I'm in the mood for some driving around."

"Video Store and pizza?" Dustin suggested with a wince fully expecting her to say no.

"Sounds good to me," she nodded smiling. The boys looked at each other shocked with grins rushing to Cleo's car. "Hey, Eddie?" she called to the boy who had been paying no attention to her interaction with the two freshmen and how excited she made them. He hummed a response while directing his eyes to meet hers. "Would you... maybe want to come with us?" She rocked on the balls of her feet while speaking and waiting for an answer.

The Munson boy sighed looking back at his van and then back to Cleo. "Sorry, Dora," she winced at the nickname and he grinned at her reaction tilting his head, "I'd love to, but I have to meet up with someone." Cleo nodded understandingly turning on her heel to go to her car. "I'll be sure to redeem that offer though!" he called after her.

      "I know you will!"