Courtney watched as a the next set of gorgeous girls walked up on stage, in  front of Heather and her minions. They all wore the same short cheer skirts and adorable crop top. Blue and gold, with strappy sleeves and their hair in high ponytails. 

Watching as each girl went through their routine, Courtney only felt herself getting more nervous

"Ugh, how cliche can you get?" Gwen mumbled, leaning back against the bleachers and crossing her arms over her chest. She was wearing dark purple work out shorts and a black loose tank top with Nike running shoes. Her short black hair was pulled back in two low pigtails that only she could pull off. "Cheerleading," she snorted at the word. 

Courtney glared at her "We wouldn't be in this mess if you hadn't said anything," she snapped. Gwen shrugged a little and tilted her head to the side

"What if Trent gets on the football team? Doesn't being his personal cheerleader sound good to you?" she teased, gently bumping Courtney's shoulder with her own. Courtney only remained grimacing. 

"Just... Please don't ever mention my crush to Heather. She'll take that meat and hold it over my head for as long as I live," Courtney pleaded, pushing her bangs out of her eyes. Gwen held her hand up

"I swear to it," she said. Courtney nodded and Gwen dropped her hand

"Cooper, Lodge, you guys are up!" Heather's shrill voice called over to them. Courtney and Gwen shared nervous looks and slowly stood up. 

"Hell awaits," Gwen mumbled and the two walked up on stage slowly. Courtney swallowed hard as she looked at a very smug and unamused Heather. She had her arms crossed over her chest, her long black hair pulled into a cute half up half down hair style. 

"Whenever you're ready," Lindsey-Heather's second in command- said, clicking her pen and scribbling something on her clipboard. 

Once the two finished their short routine, Courtney reached up and pulled her ponytail tight, breathing hard a little. Heather slowly blinked a little and leaned over and murmured something to Lindsey and Beth, before smirking and looking back at the girls. 

"Now, for the interview portion of the tryouts," Heather said, leaning forward. Her eyes locked on Courtney "Tell me, how's Cathy doing?" 

Courtney's hands turned to fists, and she felt her shoulders tighten "She's fine. Thanks for asking,"

Heather's lips lifted into a snarl "Gwen, has Courtney told you about her sister yet?"

Gwen shook her head "Uh, no?"

"Go ahead, Courtney," Heather said, her eyes darkening "Tell Gwen here about your sister and my dear brother," 

Courtney made a noise in the back of her throat, and looked at a curious Gwen "Jason and Cathy dated,"

"I wouldn't really call it.. Dated," Heather sneered

"It didn't end well," Courtney said quietly. Heather slowly stood up and put her hands on her hips

"In fact.. Jason is probably why your sister had a crazy break down and is now in a loony bin," Heather said, causing Lindsey and Beth to snicker behind her. Courtney felt her nails dig into her palms, as her anger rose. 

"That's what my parents think," Courtney said. Heather tilted her head to the side

"What do you have to say about that, Courtney?" Heather asked, slowly walking towards them to stop in front of the shorter girl. Who's eyes had narrowed and face turned red in anger "Now is your chance, the floor is your's. Whatever you've been keeping inside about how Jason treated Cathy. Unleash it. Destroy me. Annihilate me," Heather hissed. Courtney felt blood drip through her fingers and to the floor, the stinging pain keeping her sane. 

Courtney slowly unclenched her fists and felt her shoulders relax "I just... Wanted to say how sorry I am, for you and your family. I can't imagine what you all must be going through," she said, her voice breaking. 

Heather seemed to be dissappointed, as she turned and slowly sat back down in her seat "Right.." she mumbled. But her face brightened and she looked at Gwen "Gwen! Welcome to the River Vixens," her eyes slowly drifted to Courtney "Better luck next time, Courtney," 

Courtney sighed and looked down, and Gwen stepped forward, raising her hands in confusion "wait, what?" Gwen barked "Why? Because you couldn't bully Courtney into being a bitch?"

"I need girls with fire, and Courtney just doesn't have that," Heather shrugged. Gwen slowly stepped forward 

"Oh I know what you need, Heather. Because I know who you are. You would rather people fear, then like you. So you traffic in terror, and intimidation. You're rich, so you've never been held accountable. But I'm living proof," Gwen took another step forward. "That certainty, that entitlement, that you wear on your head like a crown means nothing in the real world. And one day, when you realize that all you really have is a lonely life and a bald spot from that crown you'll look back at these years and ask yourself why you were such a bitch," 

Heather stiffened, her mouth forming a pissed off line. But Gwen didn't stop, and Courtney smirked a little as Gwen stopped right in front of Heather, looking down at her

"Eventually, there will be a reckoning. Or.." Gwen pointed a pale finger into Heather's face "Maybe that reckoning is now. Maybe, that reckoning... Is me," 

Heather growled at Gwen as she looked back at Courtney "Courtney and I come as a matching set. You want one, you take us both. You wanted fire? Well... Sorry sweetheart. I play with ice,"

Heather huffed and stood up quickly, her face flushed. Gwen smirked and watched as she and her minions quickly left the gym. Not believing someone had just said that to her. 

Gwen watched them go, a satisfied look on her face before slowly turning to look back at Courtney. Who looked horrified

"I cannot believe you just did that..." she whimpered, Gwen rolled her eyes and sighed

"It needed to be done. She needed to be knocked down a few pegs," Gwen said, as though it was obvious. Courtney slumped her shoulders

"Great," she whined "Now I'm on Heather's shit list for sure.. Not like I wasn't already," 

Suddenly the doors opened, and a flustered Lindsey walked into the gym. She was holding two River Vixen uniforms in her hands. She slowly walked over to the two girls and shoved them at them

"Heather sends her congrats. You both made the team," Lindsey mumbled, and turned and quickly walked away. Once she was gone, Courtney clutched her uniform close and squealed

"Yes!" she cheered "I made it-oh um.. We made it!" 

Gwen handled her uniform like it was the plague "Yay," she squeaked out.