Apricity [a-PRIS-i-tee]: The warmth of the sun in winter
Briar Elizabeth Maddox
Became a social outcast over the summer and now her used-to-be friends treat her no better than the dirt under their shoes. But no matter what she's been through, she'...
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I made the cheerleading squad.
I was expecting to make it but at the same time, I wasn't. I was sure Naomi or one of her close friends was going to sabotage my auditions somehow to make me look incompetent.
They didn't, but I couldn't help but think that was for a reason I didn't yet understand.
I was staring at my name on the board when I tensed at a voice that came up from beside me.
"Congrats, Briar." I look with relief when I see Myles. The smile on his face for me made his dimple shine. I greeted his smile with one of my own.
"Thank you, Myles! Congrats to you as well." I didn't need to look at the board to know his name was on the basketball team list. I already knew he was a skilled player.
"How have you been?" He asked me. Something about his careful tone struck me as uncharacteristic. I think he was specifically asking me because he wanted to know.
"I've been good," I say genuinely. "I never thanked you for checking up on me before. I really do appreciate it."
"Axel's a slimeball, I knew something had to be shady with what went down. Wesley's not any better, it would probably be best to stay away from both of them."
I study him for a moment as he looks at the rest of the names on the list. Just last year, both Axel and Wesley had been part of his friend group. He really could be friends with anybody, but I noticed that he had kept his distance from those two for a while now.
When he looks at me, I nod at him in response to his last words. Then we both turn back to the board of names.
"You know making the team means schedule changes, right?" I ask. "Maybe you and Val are going to be in the same class after this."
His eyes light up at the mention of Valentina's name. I saw it in the way his eyebrows raised and the small smile that came over his mouth. He turns to me suddenly. "Okay be honest. Do you think I have a chance with her?"
I take a big inhale at his question to give myself time to think about my next words. My immediate answer? Yes. But I didn't want to say anything that could potentially steer him off course.
"I think that Val likes attention so you're on the right track so far. Just as long as she never feels disrespected by you, I'd say you have a shot eventually." I make sure to say the last part as casually as I can and add a shoulder shrug for good measure. "She's absolutely going to make you work for it though."
He tries to hide his smile but he fails miserably. "I'd never disrespect her. Part because she scares me but partly because I like her a lot."
"But mainly because she scares you?"
"Yeah absolutely," he says with no hesitation.
I laugh openly at that. Valentina shows up shortly after to look at the board herself. "You made it didn't you?" She asks as she searches. "Obviously you made it- YES THERE YOU ARE! YAY!" Her finger drags down only a few names to find her own and her excitement becomes contagious.
