9781250209153

“I hope so.” She sounds downcast, defeated. “Charlotte’s already trying
to sabotage me. She’s going around telling everyone that even if
cheerleading is quote, unquote, ‘a legitimate sport,’ that I’m obviously not a
good captain if I’m letting girls fall during our routines.”
“That jealous, snaggletoothed heifer,” Honey-Belle says, and I have to
choke back a laugh. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard her angry.
“Plus, I can’t figure out whether winning Queen helps or hurts my
chances,” Irene continues. “Do people think girls are less athletic when they
win a You’re Pretty Award?”
“Absolutely not. You’re a boss. Everyone knows that.”
“Maybe,” Irene says. She doesn’t sound convinced. “I don’t know,
Honey-Belle. I have to win SAOY to afford Benson, and I can’t win SAOY
if I’m not cheering, but I can’t pay for this deductible unless I quit the squad
and get a job.”
“You have to tell your parents,” Honey-Belle says. “Just explain it to
them. Give them a chance to understand.”
“They won’t understand, especially my mom. She’ll make me quit the
squad and work at her practice to pay them back. She’ll finally have some
real leverage to use in her favor.”
Irene’s voice is different than I’ve ever heard before. It provokes a
feeling in me that I can’t quite name. It takes a moment to realize it’s
sympathy. She has a lot more on her shoulders than I thought. That doesn’t
excuse how shitty she’s been toward me, but still. I feel for her.
Irene sighs, Honey-Belle soothes her, and they finally leave. I wait it out
for a minute before I follow suit.
When the dance ends, it’s collectively decided that the night will continue at
the Christmas Emporium. It’s a well-known secret that Grandma Earl
students have been hosting after-parties there for decades. Plus, Honey-
Belle has a key to let everyone into the Santa room, where the Earl-Hewetts
keep their stock of Santa Claus statues that kids take pictures with when
they’re drunk.