As if on cue, the sound of the electrical bell filled the school the moment Skaii pushed the double iron door open. As usual, the whole student body stood frozen, watching her every move. She couldn't help but snicker at the routine; everyday was the same, she would walk in just in time for class and just in time to be the center of attraction.

Talk about neutrons.

The hallway adorn in bright orange commemorating the beginning of fall and the start of the football season. The jocks, clad into Trinity Vale uniforms, faded into the background as soon as she approached. No one said anything, the unfaltering frosty glare in her eyes shattered any hope of getting a reply from the queen herself. When it wasn't her eyes, her face did the trick, even though it easily encompassed the collided works of Dalí and Da Vincí and was the envy of most girls, she almost always wore a scowl.

The shrill of the bell abruptly ended and the hallways were met with silence, only the clicking of her leather heels could be heard. The echoing of her feet on the floor was suddenly interrupted by a girl who appeared in front of her, "Hey Skaii, great show on Friday, I enjoyed it so much." The girl's high-pitched voice matched the electrified expression on her face. Skaii's brow furrowed, this girl was way too happy, she was smiling so hard and it wasn't even nine yet. There's something wrong with someone like that in high school. She frowned and pursed her lips.

Her steps did not falter down the long hallway and the girl strode foot to foot with her, still grinning so hard, her teeth might probably crack. "I thought maybe, um we could be friends and you could teach me how to dance." She continued.

Skaii pushed through the crowded hallway, acknowledging the few girls from her squad who could speak directly to her, occasionally waving. She almost forgot the girl who was just a few steps away from her until she spoke up again.

"It would be great if you do 'cause, I don't have any friends. I just transferred." Skaii abruptly stopped walking.

"Do you know me?" She spoke slowly as if it ached to form her words, then turned to face the girl.

"Of course, of course I do. Everyone knows you." The girl replied instantly, her smile widened when she realized Skaii finally notice her presence. Her anxiety increased.

Skaii shook her head, amused by the girl in front of her. Then her eyes narrowed and her expression turned cold, "See what I meant was, if you know me, you'd know that you should get out of my face." With that, she pushed past the girl, leaving her with a frown on her face and her hopes greeting the floor. Skaii continued walking to her locker, without a single glance backwards.

When she arrived, she pulled out her AP Biology book and opened it. She scanned through the pages, searching for a piece of homework paper that was due tomorrow, she had yet to look at it. Her perfectly manicured fingers skimmed through the pages swiftly until she found what she wanted. With slightly shaking hands, she unfolded the paper, when she felt someone behind her. She quickly spun around to meet her unexpected visitor.

"Good morning darling Reeves." She sang, with a smile, but it was strained, the headmistress could see that. Miss Reeves scoffed at Skaii's feeble attempt to look pleased to see her.

"I don't think what you're wearing is appropriate miss Holder." She looked at Skaii's knee length leather skirt and crop top up and down and shook her head disapprovingly.

"I could say the same about you, it is the twenty first century you know." She winced at the blouse the headmistress was wearing and then shook her head. "I can't possibly see how your children allow you to leave your house looking like this. No one wears khaki shirt and dress pants." Skaii continued to insult.

"Remember I am your headmistress young lady and you can be suspended for your disrespect. You are on strike two for the stunt you pulled last week." Reeves pointed a finger at her accusingly but her voice never rose, it was strained as if she was trying to hold back her anger. Skaii sensed that she could go off at any second. She smirked momentarily, reliving what happened at last week's basketball game. But what happened had nothing to do with her, she wasn't even in the gym. She could tell the headmistress she didn't order the girls to do it but it was obvious whatever she said to her would be considered a lie.

"Tell me it didn't spice up the evening, the boys were failing miserably, we had to cheer them up." Her voice feigned innocence but her eyes held a look of ridicule.

"Trinity Vale High is the most prominent private private school in the county. Cutting the middle of the game to take twelve of my basketball players to a happy place isn't spicing up anything. It made us look like we are producing hookers." Mrs. Reeves looked like she was about to blow, her fuming rage was almost palpable, her face was tinted pink. "I am warning you Skaii." She said and stormed off.

"Drop by anytime." Skaii called after her. The grunt the headmistress gave her was loud enough for the whole school to hear. Skaii was never one for antics or smut but when her girls did something, it was done. Nothing she did or say would change it. But headmistress Reeves trusted her to do her job as cheerleader and if she didn't, she would make sure she appointed a coach to take her place as Trinity Vale's choreographer. As she was about to open her locker something flew by her swiftly, almost hitting her in the knee.

"What the hell is wrong with you!" She screeched in anguish as she looked down at the shattered bottle on the ground then and then spun around to the culprits. Kelly and Melinda two of her head cheerleaders, stood frozen in their spot, looking as wide-eyed as she was. Kelly held what remained of the bottle in her hand, indicating she was its owner.

"Are you crazy?" Skaii cursed the girl more pointedly again. Both of them began to open her mouth to say something but Skaii held her hand up, cutting off anything she'd say. "Don't answer that, move it." She snapped and walked past them.

--

The last session was always the longest, thought Skaii as she tapped her pen on the desk. She was seated at the back of the class, watching as it dragged on, occasionally sighing or doodling in her notebook. She could hardly wait to hear that annoying ring of the school bell. English classes could be boring till it hurt on a Friday and Fridays were the most nerve-racking day of the week in high-school.

It was the day students anticipated at the start of the week and it was the day that was the longest. The minutes would seem like hours and the hours would be endless, like now.

Suddenly her phone began to vibrate. It was a text message.

Our place at seven?

-Ian

She couldn't help the smile that crept up her face. Her mood was lifted with just one text, and that could only come from one of two persons. Her father or her brother Ian that, it was the latter. She quickly replied.

You bet. I miss you and dad :(

-Skaii

We miss you too.

-Ian

"Skaii, please put away the phone." Mr. Smith, her English teacher called from the front of the class, causing everyone to turn in her direction.

Hey Ian, I have to go. Text you later okay? Love you .

-Skaii

She slid the phone face down and looked up at the clock that was at the front of the class just in time to witness it strike three. "Oh look, your pantomime has tragically come to an end." She sarcastically retorted while she stood. "See you Monday Mr. Smith, I learnt a lot today." She trotted past him with a quick wave.

As soon as Skaii took her things from her locker, she headed to the gym. The team was already there, some of them were warming up for the evening, some of them, to Skaii's irritation, were on their cell phones.

"Alright guys, bag it." She pointed to the trash bag that was seating on the front row, almost filled with phones, sneakers and other things that she took from them.

One girl stood and stomped over to the bag and dropped her phone in. The others were sitting stubbornly on the floor.

"You know the rules, now bag it. And don't make me come out there."

They reluctantly pushed off the floor and stomped over to the bag.

"Alright, twenty push-ups and sit-ups." She called after them, she earned a few grunts and scoffs but she was used to their attitude. So she shrugged them off. "The rest of you just stay over here."

She walked to her seat in front of the remaining squad and slumped down. "Tomorrow's our last game for the season, you know that. So I trust that you know the routine by now."

A boy with ashy blonde hair rose his hand slowly.

"Yes Jake?" Skaii acknowledged.

"It was kinda hard to get it if a certain person keeps staring at you." He grinned sheepishly.

"Yeah, I'm gorgeous, we've already established that." She flipped her hair and smiled, causing some girls to roll their eyes.

"Now, if that certain person was you, I wouldn't have a problem. But please tell your friend to stop checking me out." She turned to the boy beside Jake and gave him a smile which vanished as quickly as it came. "Enough chit chat, run the routine from hollaback girl." She ordered.

They stalked to the center of the gym and took their positions in a X. Skaii switched on the music, and as soon as Gwen started singing they began dancing.

A few times I've been around that track

So it's not gonna just happen like that

'Cause I ain't no hollaback girl

Skaii sat watching the routine she spent nights building, the routine she knew would land them a spot in the cheer tryouts. It was great, she smiled smugly at them.

A girl fell out of line and missed the last move. She switched off the music.

"Everyone, stop." She called out, they paused pondering what fault they had. "Look, it is a toe touch in the X. Okay, the X formation first, then you fall into windows." She was staring at the girl, until she shook her head. The music began again and they picked up where they left off.

Gonna make you fall, gonna sock it to you

That's right, I'm the last one standing.

Five girls ran to the front while the rest stayed at the back. They back flipped into a prep and bounced to the rhythm, waiting for their cue, Then launched into a pike toss. They landed in a cradle and the team scattered in windows formation to do their motion technique. Their smile never faded. Skaii always reminded them that in practice, you perform like millions were watching. They didn't forget that.

A few times I've been around that track

So it's not gonna just happen like that

'Cause I ain't no hollaback girl

I ain't no hollaback girl

The routine climaxed from their motion technique to a sequence of jumps and came to a dynamic end with a two and a half pyramid.

"Wow, good job guys." Skaii cheered while she stood and walked over to them.

"Does this mean we can rest?" Jake asked, fake wheezing and fanning himself with his hands.

"You're acting like you just ran a marathon. From the top, without the music." She announced and pulled her pants off, revealing a white cotton legging that tightly hugged her body and went to join them.

"Oh come on, this is torture." Tyler groaned from the back, while he looked at Skaii's body.

Comment what you think about the book so far.

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Lots of love.