When past and present collide

[Adonya van Rutherford]

While this hadn't been in the plan, Blythe was glad that she had dressed to cheer. Tucking one strand of her hair back from where it had gotten loose, she waited for Cortney's orders, holding her head high, although she didn't match the other girl's lift of the chin. As she heard her orders, she nodded once, her face flat, although she repeated the order to herself a few times. It wouldn't be good if she did them out of order, and it wouldn't help her one bit.

Eyeing the field, making sure there was nothing that could trip her up, she smiled slightly as she heard Cortney's invitation, challenge, whatever it was, giving it only a second's thought before she moved into the actions that the girl had listed, landing with both feet solid before throwing her hands up in her finish with a broad smile on her face. After a second or so, she lowered her hands and allowed the smile off of her face, walking back to where she had started, resisting the urge to make a comment along the lines of 'warm-up', and instead contenting herself with hands on her hips, her chin high as she levelled her gaze at the captain. Perhaps she should have stretched, but then, this was easy enough, and she doubted they'd be doing anything huge.

[Sara Jane Lyena]

Sara frowned even more as she saw the tension between Cortney and this new girl, whose name she still hadn't caught, before she realized that the older cheerleaders might be looking at her for her reaction and rearranged her features into a confident smile as she regarded Cortney. Maybe she felt as though the junior had bitten off a bit more than she could chew, but then, this was the perfect trial by fire for Cortney... As long as she passed. If she let the younger girl wear her down, then nothing Sara or Andie did would help her anymore.

As the blonde seemed to be getting ready to do what the captain had said, Sara let out her breath slowly, then watched the girl, her eyes out for overall performance, not specific little technique mistakes. However, as the girl did the set without any big hang-ups, she felt the worry starting to come back. This girl was good... Maybe too good, if she knew her own skill. Only time would tell, though. Her eyes turning back to Cortney, who had moved over to the boom box, she waited for the junior to pass judgement on the hopeful.

[Andie Simone]

Andie was a little surprised with the challenge that was handed to the Freshman, her eyebrow arched as she looked from the new captain to the wannabe and back again, but she didn't give any sign of whether she approved is disproved of what Cortney had done, right now, the squad belonged to the Junior and Andie, as the coach, was only there to make sure that none of the girls broke their necks and what the captain had asked the younger girl to do wasn't completely over the top, and could be simply completed as a warm-up in itself without the blonde having to warm-up first.

She stepped up to stand beside Cortney and watched carefully, taking everything in; Blythe's reaction to what she was told to do and then the way she went through the movements. She could see that the younger girl had some good skills, it was hard to tell the difference between an ex-gymnast and ex-cheerleader, as they both had the same defined muscles - which was why she had wanted Cara on her squad since the girl had started Blue Ridge - and they way she had completed the set task, it still left the coach wondering. "She was alright." She said in a voice that was for the Junior's ears only.

[Cortney Smit]

Cort's bravado almost faltered when Blythe did no more than giver her a blank look. She arched her eyebrows in a sarcastic really? question, but didn't say anything as she put her right hand on her hip and shifted her weight to her left as she tried to look bored as she waited for the youngster to do as she was asked.

The junior pulled a face as Blythe went through what she was asked to do. The captain had a feeling that the young girl was going to be good, but she had hoped that she would struggle at least a little with all the gymnastic moves, especially when some cheerleaders were only required to do toe-touches and herkies, part of her had hoped that Blythe was one of those that didn't do the gymnastic parts of cheerleading. "Meh, you were alright." She said with an offhanded shrug. "Keep an eye on the bulletin-board for when try-outs are." She gave a sugary-sweet smile that didn't reach her eyes.

She circled her shoulders before she walked over and faced the rest of her squad. "Well, ladies, welcome to a new year. Our first pep-rally will be in a week, so we should probably get started working. I'll have a new routine ready for us to learn before the next game. I am going to talk with Coach Hoefflin and see if he can fit us in a couple of times a week, help out with our tumbling and verticals, stuff like that." She glanced over at Andie. "Is there anything else, Coach?"

[Adonya van Rutherford]

Adonya didn't even bother replying to Cortney's words on her performance. She knew that she had done it well, if not quite perfectly, but it didn't surprise her that the captain couldn't admit that. After all, she had probably been hoping it didn't go so well. As Cortney told her to watch for tryouts, Blythe nodded once, knowing that she would be up at the office two or three times a day now, just to make sure that there was no chance for them to trick her out of coming to tryouts.

That seemed to be her dismissal, and Blythe walked over to where the boombox was, moving out of the way for the rest of the team to meet with their captain, although she stayed close enough to listen in on what the older girl was saying. It was important for her to know when the pep rallies were, and while she hadn't made it onto the team yet, she didn't doubt that it was only a matter of time. After all, while Cortney hadn't seemed to show any enthusiasm, as Blythe leaned back to watch the girl and her incomplete squad, she knew that she wouldn't have done anything less.

[Sara Jane Lyena]

As everything went well, Sara folded her long legs to sit against the fence, hanging an arm over each of her canines, rubbing their ears as the trio watched Cortney and the squad. She was sad that she had lost the friendship that the squad had been, but then, everyone had to face college at some point. She frowned as she considered the fact that UK's cheerleader clinic was coming up. She was still debating not attending, but then, would she hear the end of it? Would she hear the end of it if she went and didn't make the squad? Well, probably not.

As a slight breeze picked up, Sara saw Nunya's ears flicker, and as the malamute's nose worked the new air, Sara looked at the black-and-white dog, "What's up?" While the dog wasn't trained to respond to the words, Sara and the mal had forged a bond that went through the year they had spent apart, and as Nunya shifted her head to look towards the bleachers to their back, Sara didn't doubt that the scent that the malamute was alerting to was hidden. Of course, that could be a burger, dropped some weeks prior, or something else, no one knew, but as nothing seemed to be happening with the squad, she turned away for a few moments, although she didn't see much in the shadow of the bleachers. Shrugging it off, Sara leaned back against the fence, turning her attention back to the cheer team.

[Amelia DeFoe]

Amy watched the girl, Sara, and her dogs, but when it seemed that they were done with what they were doing, she turned her attention to where Cortney was. This girl seemed very different from the one she had met in the arena a few weeks ago, but then, she looked almost the same, and Amy didn't doubt that it was the same person.

As Cortney called forward a girl that Amy had never met, the girl shifted into a sitting position to get a better view. No one was looking in her direction, why should they? The other girl was the centre of attention now anyway. Once in a while, she glanced over at the girl with the two dogs, although most of her attention was taken by the cheerleader's stunts.

Once the blonde was done, and had walked to the side, it seemed like the excitement was over for the moment, and Amy turned her attention back to Sara and her dogs. One of the dogs seemed to have noticed something, but only when the dog turned in her direction did Amy realize what it was. Scared that she was going to be discovered, Amy shrank back, hoping that no one had noticed her, despite her sudden motion.

[Andie Simone]

Andie pressed her lips together and raised her eyebrows at Cortney's question. "Nope." She said as she shook her head. "All we were here to do was to crown our new captain, which would be you. Oh yeah, guard that spirit stick with your life." She looked around the rest of the squad as she raised her eyebrows. "Though, I've heard urban legends of what's happened to people who have tried to steal it."

She stood back silently as the Junior dismissed the squad before she stepped forward and placed her hand on the girl's shoulder. "You did really well." She then watched the girl leave the field. Picking up the boom box, Andie headed over to where Sara was with Nunya and Cinder. The brunette pressed her lips together as she looked around the bleachers. "I was hoping that one of the new Blue House residents would come today to meet you, but I get the feeling that being out here made her feel too... in the open, I guess." She said.

She glanced over her shoulder to the last of the departing girl. "You still think we pick the right girl?" She asked softly. "I got a little worried that Cort was going to cave when Blythe didn't seem affected by the challenge. Blythe's got spunk, I'll give you that. Possible captain material, in a few years." She laughed. "I must admit that I'm proud of Cort though, she did well for her first day when none of the others were backing her."

[Cortney Smit]

Cortney grinned. "Right, I'll let you all know when Coach Hoefflin can fit us in." She looked around at each of the girls. "I'll see you all at next practice." She remained where she was standing as the others departed. She knew that if she was the first to move away, it was look as though she was running away and she didn't want to make them think that.

She looked over her shoulder at Andie and arched her eyebrows. "You really think so? Thanks" She heaved a sigh as she grabbed her bag, tucking the spirit stick into her bag. She would put the stick on the shelf above her desk, beside the picture of Myriam, and look at it each day to remind herself of who she now was.

Thinking about her dorm room, also made her think about Blythe. She needed to talk to the girl, and soon. She didn't want to apologise for what she had done, but she wanted some of the other girl's confidence.

Putting the bag over her shoulder, she headed off the field and toward the direction of Evening Primrose. Sure, she was in her cheer uniform, but she kept a spare pair of boot in the tackroom of the broodmare barn, and she would skip out the stalls before she headed back to her dorm and washed up for dinner.

[Adonya van Rutherford]

Blythe watched the rest of the team, apart from them, but in tune to what was happening. It was a strange feeling, not being a part of the team, but she knew that would change soon enough.

As the captain released them, Blythe left, forcing herself into the middle of the cheerleaders, with her new friend, although she noticed that they all shifted away from her. She had managed to curry disfavour with the captain, and even if they didn't support the captain, they knew she was not someone they wanted to associate with. That would all change after the tryouts, Blythe guessed, when she was a part of the team.

Once she had left the field, she turned in the direction of the library. She didn't really enjoy the place, but she might as well look up the person she wanted to report on for World History, since she didn't want to return to their room just yet. She didn't know where Cortney would go after cheer practice, but just in case, Blythe didn't want to face her just yet. It would all eventually pan out, or she would request a new roommate, but first, she'd promised her mom that she would try.

[Sara Jane Lyena]

As the cheer team disbanded, Sara watched the blonde girl leaving, her face clear, but after Cortney had left, Sara rose and stepped forward, but Andie was already approaching her. As Andie mentioned something that was completely out of left field, not the question Sara was thinking of, she raised an eyebrow, "A Blue Houser that doesn't like being out in the open?" She turned and looked at the bleachers, "I don't see anyone, although then again, that doesn't mean much, I haven't been looking for them." She looked at Andie, "Do you want me to hang around a bit, in case she shows? I don't have to be back too early, although I do need to bring Rolo in before it gets dark."

As Andie asked the question that Sara had been expecting, she frowned, taking a deep breath. "I'm not sure anymore. She managed today, but she's going to need to toughen up a bit more." As Andie mentioned Blythe, Sara asked, "The blonde girl? Yes, I was worried about that too. I don't know what made her feel like she should start with the new girl, but I suppose it went alright." As she heard Andie's appraisal of the girl, she nodded, "She could be, but for now, I guess I'm hoping Cortney'll find a way to befriend her. It'd be helpful, even if she isn't an upperclassman yet." She raised an eyebrow at Andie, grinning, "I'm going to guess she'll make the team, unless she absolutely blows it at tryouts?"

[Amelia DeFoe]

Amy stayed where she was, crouched, as Cortney's words drifted to her. She could hear almost everything that was said on the field, despite the slight breeze that worked against her. As she watched everyone leave, she wondered if she had missed her opportunity to meet the woman that she had come to see.

As Andie approached the girl, Amy leaned forward, accidentally placing her hand on where Wolf's tail lay. As she shifted her weight, she pressed down, causing the dog to yelp and jump. Hissing with anger at herself, Amy petted the dog, apologizing to him, with no regard to her hiding. Wolf wagged off the injury and then shifted back into his position, but Amy knew they would have to show themselves now. It wasn't as though they couldn't have heard that commotion.

Making her way out from under the bleachers, working backwards slowly, then stood behind the bleachers for a moment, considering just making her way away. It was a very tempting solution to the problem, but Amy knew that she couldn't do that. After checking on Wolf and making sure none of the debris from under the bleachers had stuck to him, or her hair, Amy clipped on the dog's leash and, gripping it tightly, made her way around the bleachers, towards where the two women were, although she stayed her distance away from them, watching them silently.

[Andie Simone]

Andie grinned at Sara's comment. "Funny to make the comparison, but she reminds me a little of Cara, other than C being completely terrified of dogs when she first joined the Academy. Another Blue who didn't like being out in the open, though she wasn't a Blue at first." She shrugged, thinking of the small mixed-breed and then shook her head. "If we could wait another few minutes, that would be nice."

She pressed her lips together in a smirk. "From the way that she instantly called her out, I get the feeling that Cort had a bit more to prove then just her leadership ability." She thought about Blythe. "I guess her position on the squad will have to do with try-outs and whether Cortney can stand having her on the team. I'm just the Coach, I can suggest who she picks from the tryouts, but it's up to her with who gets picked."

Andie looked toward the bleachers when she heard the yelp of an animal. "I'm getting the feeling that Amy's been here the whole time." She said with a chuckle. "So glad that you could join us." She didn't look toward Amy, but her voice was warm and welcoming, waiting for the youngster to join them before she introduced her to Sara.

[Sara Jane Lyena]

Sara raised an eyebrow at the comparison that Andie drew, knowing that Andie had disliked the petite girl, even more so as she had never joined the cheer squad. "I'm going to guess that she has a service dog?" There wasn't much that set her apart from other students, except, of course, the fact that she had Cinder with her, and if Andie was mentioning Cara's dislike for dogs, it was unlikely that this mysterious kid had Celiacs. "That's fine, we'll hang around." She glanced down at Cinder and Nunya, "Licens."

Turning her attention back to Andie, she nodded, "There has to have been something there." She pressed her lips together as she thought about the girl again, "Well, you'll have to tell me how that goes. It'll be interesting to follow." She was sorry that she wouldn't be able to see it unfold, but then, she would come back and visit once in a while.

The yelp of a dog distracted her, and she looked towards the bleachers, "It would seem so." Nunya had noticed something in the bleachers earlier, that same area that the yelp had come from. She watched as a younger girl approached, clutching her dog's lead, and gave her a smile before waiting for either the girl or Andie to introduce the freshman.

[Amelia DeFoe]

Amy's eyes darted back and forth from Andie to the girl, Sara, then to the two dogs, one of whom was approaching her. She was glad to see Wolf ignoring him, for his training would have been faulty had he not, but she felt bad that her dog had next to no friends that he could play with when his day was out. There was Bruno, the other service dog, and some of the teachers had dogs, but how could she ask them? She could barely open her mouth to introduce herself to this girl, whom she probably wouldn't see again.

But open her mouth she did, carefully, unsure of what to say to the girl. She could hardly say 'Hi, Andie said your dogs walked on their back legs and I just wanted to come and see them and you.' Oh, other people could have, but Amy couldn't work up the courage, "My name is Amy, and this is Wolf." What could she say? Stricken with terror, Amy glanced at the gate, but it wasn't an option to bolt, not anymore. She had managed to mess even that up, hadn't she?