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A Gaby FanFic by PB
Chapter 14
Classes on the Thursday prior to the cheer competition were pretty normal, but when school was dismissed for the day, it was only beginning for the Sherwood Foresters'. Miss Bell and the AHS cheer coach, Miss (Bunny) MacDonald, combined forces to ‘fine tune' their planned performance for the competition. It proved to be an extended workout, the likes the British girls had not seen until now.
“And one and two and three and four ... annnnnnndddd ... stop! …Hold it ladies … keep smiling Allison ... and ... relax!” Bunny extolled as she completed their cheer practice.
“Huh!” Gaby found herself wanting for air. “You'd think I just ... ( puff ) completed the ... ( puff ) ... Tdf!
“God ... I'm glad that's over!” Bern managed to whisper.
“Well done girls!” Miss C stated. “Full uniform practice tomorrow ... so don't forget them! ... Right, Gaby?”
“No, Miss ... ( puff ) ... I mean ... ( puff ) ... yes, Miss.”
That got a few giggles from Maddy.
“Well … good luck girls … I'll be watching you on Saturday,” Bunny called out before leaving for the night.
Because Jocelyn was waiting outside in the car, Gaby had to pass up yet another opportunity to talk with the gang. She felt they were drifting apart and she desperately wanted the chance to talk to them. She felt that maybe if they could hang out together like they used to, things would start to return to normal.
“Earth to Gaby! ... I said how did your practice with Bunny go?” Brit loudly asked.
“What? ... I guess I wasn't listening,” Gaby absently replied.
“Like that's a news flash!” an exasperated Brit exclaimed.
“Huh?”
“Bunny! ... Practice? ... Ya know? ... As in cheerleaders?” Britney was getting frustrated with Gaby's lack of attention.
“Britney! … Leave her alone!” Mrs W chided.
“Mu-um!” Britney whined.
“It's alright Mrs Walters,” Gaby allowed.
“No it's not Gaby! ... Now Britney! ... You stop pestering Gaby ... I'm sho' she'll tell you when she's good and ready,” Mrs. W cautioned her youngest.
On the way home, Mrs. Walters unexpectedly pulled into the parking lot of the local grocery store. It may have been an undesirable delay to Brit but with Gaby not having been in an American grocery store before, she looked upon it as an opportunity to explore.
“Not exactly what I expected, but,” Gaby mumbled to herself as she followed Mrs. W and Brit in through the doors. Brit disappeared to the magazine rack, while the other two grabbed a cart and made for the aisles of food. Gaby was quick to accept Mrs. W's offer of picking up some chocolates for the others!
That night, the usual transatlantic call from home was a bit of a disappointment to Gaby. She felt guilty about even feeling that way, but Dave explained Jen was out for the evening with Aunt Carol. She did find some solace in describing in detail the bike Diane was building for her to ride in the Atlanta Winter Classic. When she finished talking to her dad, she handed the phone over to Jules before rejoining the Walters' in their living room.
Friday's classes seemed longer and more boring than usual. Cheer practice seemed to go quite well. The girls had taken to learning the new part of the routine remarkably well. Everyone, including Miss C and Miss B, seemed well pleased.
“Okay, girls! ... Your attention please! ... That's better ... now … we're travelling up with the Augusta girls in the morning ... everyone know how they are getting here?” Miss C asked.
“Yes Miss,” they chorused.
“Okay then, off you go! I'll see you tomorrow morning at seven sharp!” Miss C dismissed the cheer team with a clap of the hands.
Gaby caught a lift with Em and Sandy back to the Walters but instead of going straight in she decided to take a quick stroll and ended up staring through Erin's shop window.
“Where have you been o' sister of mine?” Jules impatiently asked when Gaby got up to the attic.
“Cheer practice?”
“That finished ages ago ... I mean ‘after' practice! ... Mad phoned lookin' for you ... she said Sandy gave you a lift.”
“She did ... I went for a walk ... what did Mad want?” Gaby asked.
“Just reminding you to take your camera tomorrow,” Jules replied.
“Oh … yeah … if I don't forget,” Gaby dismissed. She was a little disappointed she missed the call as she wanted to talk with Mad.
“…And Mrs W is driving Debs and me up a bit later in the car to watch.” Jules droned on.
“Huh?”
“Fergit it ... g'nite Sis,” Jules answered as she turned out the light on their night table.
Gaby couldn't sleep. Her mind jumped about, thinking about things like tomorrow's competition, and Mad. “ What is she up to? Why's she acting like she has? Why does she act like she doesn't like me around. What's her connection with Sam? I really miss talking with her and the rest of the gang. Atlanta should be good. Sunday should be good. I hope we don't show ourselves up tomorrow, I mean the Americans practically invented cheerleading didn't they? “
“Allison Lacey?”
“Miss.”
“Gaby Bond?”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Maddy Peters?”
“Miss.”
“Mer-fawn-ee Morgan?”
“Here, Miss.”
“.. and Bernadette Rose.”
“Here, Miss.”
“That's all of us, Bunny!” Miss C told the Augusta cheer coach.
“Let's get this show on the road then ... ok girls ... AHEM! ... I'm talking to ALL the cheerleaders, not just our guests!” Bunny spoke above the din of excited voices from the Augusta High cheerleaders, causing the dull roar to suddenly cease. “That's better! ... Now ... quickly put your sports bags in the luggage holds and get on board ... like civilized young ladies and gentlemen ... if that's possible!”
The first thing that everyone saw as they filed out to the school parking lot was that George and his yellow bus were nowhere to be seen. Instead, a Greyhound coach stood there waiting for the combined cheer teams. Each of the Sherwood Foresters were delighted at the prospect of the long road journey to GMU and the East Coast Cheer & Dance Championships being completed in comfort, given the many hours they've recently endured in George's school bus.
“Okay, people ... take your seats, please!” Bunny instructed then nodded to the driver that they were ready to depart the school.
As the coach entered the traffic pattern of the interstate, the conversation level of all onboard increased with the road noise. There were actually three separate cheer squads on board. There was the Sherwood Foresters and both the Junior and Senior AHS cheer squads. Normally quite competitive between each other, Jessica had explained to the Foresters that for competitions, both AHS squads were combined into single team.
As there was room for the girls to spread out on the bus, several decided to grab a double set of seats for themselves. This arrangement had Maddy sitting near Gaby and she took the opportunity to finally talk to her girlfriend.
“Mad? ... Can I sit here?”
“Ok ... But you're not going to start in on me with Sam ... are you?”
“You kept telling me you were my girlfriend ... an' I believed you! ... Sam thinks you two are an item ... an' you're not doing anything to tell me he's wrong! .... All I want to know … is what's going on between you two ... the truth! ... Is he like … your new boyfriend?” Gaby quietly asked.
Maddy turned and glared at Gaby. “I don't have to tell you anything! ... What are you? ... Jealous? ... I told you you're not my girlfriend ... never were ... never will be! ... I have a boyfriend!” Maddy angrily hissed. “Go away!”
“Maddy?” Gaby pleaded, tears forming in her eyes.
“Get out of here!” Maddy hissed and pushed Gaby away to emphasize the point.
Gaby complied and slowly returned to her original seat, leaving Mad to herself. A smile grew on Maddy's lips as she watched a distressed and confused Gaby return to her seat. For the rest of the trip, Gaby sat in silence trying to figure out what had happened between them. When Mad caught sight of Gaby looking her way, she immediately acted disinterested, yet she kept a discrete eye on her.
“You're enjoying this, aren't you? ... Gaby, I mean…” observed Ally as she sat down beside Maddy.
Feeling a bit put out that Ally invited herself, a very smug Maddy replied, “Yeah ... I am!”
“Why are you doing this to Drew?”
“Because I can ... we always play these mind games.”
“You mean you always play them! ... Drew fancies you ... you know he'll do anything for you ... so you torment him?” Ally stated.
“Thrill of the hunt an' all that! ... It's just a game,” Maddy replied with a certain disinterest.
“One of these times you'll push Drew too far! ... Yer too bloody proud to admit when yer wrong and your ego won't allow you to do anything other than push harder ... at that point, missy... you've already lost the game!” Ally hissed before she abruptly left the seat to take another vacant seat a few rows ahead of Maddy.
The bus driver pulled into a service centre near the town of Front Royal at which time they were informed they were nearly at their destination, which was the Fieldhouse Sports Facility on the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University. Following a short stop in which the kids were allowed to stretch their legs, the group re-boarded the bus and completed the trip, pulling into the Fieldhouse parking lot just before noon.
The actual competition was due to start at one so they still had time to grab something to eat and get oriented to the place. Bunny and Miss C went to register the teams while Miss Bell took the group for a quick peek at the venue.
Impressive was an understatement! The hall itself was huge. Around the perimeter of the hall was an indoor running track and the track's infield contained three basketball courts!
“Hey, Brit! ... Who or what are the Patriots? ... Their name is all over the place!” Ally asked as both squads looked at the competition site for the first time.
“They're the University's football team!” she proudly replied.
“They play football here?” Em asked.
“Wrong football, Em!” Gaby corrected.
To imply the Foresters were just still a bit overawed by the place would be to understate the obvious.
“We're supposed to do our routine here?” Maddy asked Miss C. “It's so-o-o large!”
“Think of it as another Peterborough … and don't let the size of the place worry you,” Fran replied trying to calm any pre-performance jitters. A silence fell while the girls let that thought sink in.
“Okay ... girls! … Now we're on at two fifteen …so we'll go and eat now then come back to get ready. You need to wear the ID tags Miss Bell will pass out at all times except when you are performing. Questions?” Miss C asked the Foresters. “No? ... Okay then, let's find the canteen.”
Miss C led her squad across a large open area surrounded by modern-looking buildings finally approaching one of the buildings with a bunch of high school girls giggling at some poster. Fran cautioned the girls to only get something light, but promised something a bit more filling after their performance.
As they made their way back to the sports complex, they noticed that there were quite a few more coaches and school buses in the parking lot and a corresponding increase in the number of competing cheer squads milling around, both outside and inside the complex. The girls of the Sherwood Foresters thought the competition level was pretty serious when they went to Peterborough, but they found out this was way more intense. Bernie remarked that one could almost cut the tension with a knife.
Once Miss C led the girls to their changing area, she went back up to the competition floor, leaving them to get ready. As they dressed and primped, Maddy and Em engaged in a constant banter about the boys around the place, comparing Drew rather unfavourably to them. Even though it was plain to see that those two were trying to bait Gaby, the only ones it was irritating were Ally and Bernie. As for Gaby, she was as focused on the competition as she would be for any bike race and was ignoring the others, much to the irritation of Maddy and Em!
After they were ready, they all headed out to the hall to watch a bit of the competition. Compared to back home, a lot of the stuff was purely designed for competitions, complicated set pieces with an emphasis on perfection. Both Fran and Jessica could see each of the Foresters were getting a case of nerves and starting to feel a bit out of their depth.
All too soon it was two o'clock and the Sherwood Foresters were ushered into the holding area. Once there, Miss B handed out the finishing touch to their performance. Once they emerged from the small room that was set aside to allow final touch-ups to make-up, etc., the girl's started to get some strange looks as soon as they appeared. Before any more self-doubts could manifest in each of the girls, the sound system crackled to life.
“All the way from Notting-ham, England the Sure-wood Foresters!” The MC's announcement seemed to bounce around accompanied by some polite applause and a few cheers from the assembled mass of humanity.
Their music started and Gaby was the first one out onto the floor. When the spectators saw Gaby doing ballet-like moves in a Victorian dress, silence fell over them like a curtain. As she was joined by the other girl's in identical dresses, it became obvious to the team as well as to Fran and Jessica, that the opening part of the routine caught the spectators and judges alike, by surprise.
The routine started with a few ballet-like moves then added a bit more movement with some ribbons before forming up again as the music softened. ‘One, two, three, four, five, now!' Each girl counted off to herself and then they peeled away the Velcro, shedding the heavy dresses to reveal their real uniforms.
While the girls went into their fast-paced routine, both Fran and Jessica dragged the discarded dresses off the floor. Each girl felt it lasted forever, but in a few minutes, the routine was over with Gaby landing her splits on cue as the music finished. The routine was well received, judging by the crowd reaction.
With so many squads taking part they were quickly ushered off the floor to join their ‘coaches'.
“Well done you guys!” Miss Bell beamed.
“I think you stunned them a bit!” Miss C added.
“Can we watch for a bit … or do we change now?” Ally asked.
“I don't see why not but don't wander off ... I don't want to spend hours searching the campus,” Miss C agreed.
From the seats the girls found at the back of the stands they could see both arenas and Gaby found herself caught up in some of the action packed routines the bigger groups were performing. By contrast the smaller teams like the Foresters seemed a bit wimpy.
Aware of their seats in relation to Gaby, Maddy and Em had resumed their discussion of boys much to the annoyance of Ally and Bernie. They only stopped when they heard a familiar voice behind them.
“Hey guys … well done!” Bunny piped up.
“Thanks Bunny,” Mad replied.
“That was an interesting entrance,” Bunny suggested.
“Miss C thought of it after Gab got to wear a dress like those on one of our trips,” Em explained.
“Well from what I've overheard from people … you were a hit!” Bunny revealed.
“Thanks,” Bern stated, “How did Augusta do? … We didn't get to see them.”
“Well … I don't think we'll get a trophy this year … but we should qualify for the Eastern Board,” Bunny quietly stated.
“Kewel,” Ally allowed, sounding like she knew what that meant.
“I best get back … see ya later girls,” Bunny allowed as she rose from her crouch position.
“Bye Bunny!” Mad call out as Bunny left the stands, then promptly continued the mind games at the point she and Em left off.
Just as Gaby was about to say something to Maddy, she heard another familiar voice behind her.
“There you are”
“Oh ... hi Deb ... Jules not with you?” Gaby inquired.
“Right here!” Jules announced, sitting herself in the empty chair next to Gaby.
“I didn't know you were coming,” Em casually mentioned.
“Mom always goes to competitions and with you guys here … we had twice as much reason to come!” Deb explained.
“So what happens now?” Gaby asked her. “You know … like after everyone's performed.”
“Well … the judges make their decisions and the awards are given out,” Debbie replied, then solemnly added, “But I don't think Augusta will win anything though.”
“Nor us.” Bernie speculated.
“Hey ... don't put yourselves down ... you were really good!” Deb cheerfully stated.
“We both think you were bloody good!” Jules confirmed.
Once everyone settled down to watch the remaining competition, Maddy resumed quietly talking with Em when Gaby turned around to face her and asked, “Mad ... please stop ... I know you're just trying to wind me up, but ... just stop?”
“I'll do no such thing, Gaby Bond!” Maddy indignantly replied. “Besides … what we talk about is none of your bloody business!”
“Mad?” Gaby started to plead when Maddy interrupted her.
“Turn around and quit eavesdropping!” Maddy snapped.
“Yeah!” Em added.
All this time, Jules was shooting daggers at Maddy and as a despondent Gaby turned around in her seat, both Ally and Bernie started to voice their opinions to a smirking Mad and Em.
After several minutes and with any of the remaining competition forgotten, Gaby looked at her sister. Then with a determined look on her face and anger in her voice, Gaby turned around to confront Maddy.
“Now you listen to me Maddy Peters ... coz I'm not going to repeat it! ... I love you ... I always will ... but I ... can't stand here and take your abuse and self-centred games any longer! ... I asked you to stop ... an' you didn't ... I try to ask you ‘bout your real feelings for me ... an' I get some flippant answer ... I ... give you my love … and all I get in return is your lies, abuse and humiliation ...you've changed since we arrived Mad ... is everything you've told me in Warsop a lie ... or is this the lie?” Again, Gaby called Maddy on her behaviour and again, Maddy was at a loss for words. She just hung her head and remained silent.
“That's what I thought ... an' since you can't love me for who I am and as an equal … I think it best we part ... Good-bye Mad!” Gaby firmly stated.
“Oh yeah? … What do I care? ...You're not my girlfriend … an' … I … I'm … I'm no lesbo ... I've got a boyfriend … thank you, very much! ... An' you're certainly not him!” Maddy spat back with an unsteady voice. “Crikey! ... Two girls? … You? … Me? ... Nope … it's not right!“ she added in subdued emotional voice, as a last defiant act. Ally and Bernie were sitting in their seats, looking at the exchange and not believing what they were hearing as well.
“You heard her!” Gaby retaliated.
“All I said is that you're not my boyfriend … an' … an' you're certainly not Drew!” Mad stormed with renewed purpose. Gaby and Jules exchanged knowing glances.
“Is Gaby … not Drew … an' Drew … not Gaby?” Gaby offered. At this point, she couldn't care if her comments were overheard by those around them. Although Maddy's gaze remained fixed upon Gaby, she couldn't find words to reply. After a few moments of silence, Gaby knew Maddy would never relent.
“Fine! ... Have it your way … but don't expect Drew to be there for you any longer, either!” a frustrated Gaby shot back and ran from her seat into the hallway behind the stands where the team was seated. Jules glared at Maddy with an ‘I told you so' look.
As Gaby left her seat, Maddy called out behind her, “What makes you think you can talk for Drew?” Gaby continued without looking back. Jules gave Maddy a look of pure hatred as she rose up from her seat and quickly took off after her sister. Ally, rising up from her seat to also go to Gaby, was stopped by Em.
“Let her go ... she'll get over it ... she always does ... an' those two will be right back at it as if nothing happened!” Em said with a smirk on her face.
“Get your hand off me ... now !” Ally snapped back. “She's 100% right whether you know it or not ... an' for that matter ... I don't like how you've been treating me ... or her ... on this trip. You've seemed to have forgotten you two were proper mates and that I … was … your girlfriend ... but … that ended with you making decisions about us ... without even asking me ... an' treating me as a non-person...!”
“Ally ... you are my girlfriend! … It's just that I ...” a shocked Em whispered as Ally glared at him.
“ Was ... I was your girlfriend ... past tense! … I hope you and Rhod will be very happy together!” With that Ally pulled free from Em's grasp and headed into the back halls to try to find Gaby. As she turned in the direction she thought Gabs went, Ally almost ran head-long into Mrs. Walters as she rounded the exit from the spectator stands into the main corridor.
“Oh! ... Excuse me, Mrs. Walters ... I'm awfully sorry!”
She had a feeling Gabs had made for their change room and when she got there she met Jules coming out of the door.
“You stay with Gaby while I go get Miss C?” Jules asked as she encountered Ally at the door. Ally nodded and Jules went back to the gym.
Entering the girl's change room that the team had used, Ally found Gaby sitting on a bench between the rows of lockers. She had obviously started to change and was stripped to her underwear; her Sherwood Forester uniform nowhere to be seen. As Ally approached the bench, Gaby remained sitting along the bench, with her knees tucked up under her chin, her cold gaze and tear-stained face firmly fixed straight ahead.
“Gaby? ... You ok?” Ally softly asked. Gabs shook her head. Ally sat facing Gaby on the bench and looking around not seeing her uniform anywhere, asked, “Where's your uniform?” All she got from Gaby was a single shrug of the shoulders. Just then, she heard Jules and Miss C talking as they entered the room.
“It's over here,” Jules said as she led Fran over to the showers. “I turned off the water then left it as I found it.”
Walking through the change room, Fran found a discarded plastic shopping bag on the floor and picking it up, gave it to Jules. “Try your best to wring it out and then put it in here, please.” As Jules took the bag, Fran uttered, “Thank you, Jules ... and don't worry, dear ... we'll sort this out.” She then left Jules to gather up the wet uniform while she went to Gaby.
“Your uniform's soaked,” Fran calmly observed as she knelt beside Gaby. “What was the purpose in that?”
“I figured you'd ( sniff ) try to make me put it on again ... an' I'm not ... ( sniff ) I'm leaving the team … like I ( sniff ) said I'd do back in Mr. Wood's office!” Gaby snapped while tears continued to run down her cheeks.
“You said you'd do that after the competition,” Fran softly replied.
“We agreed I'd stay with the team until we finished our routine... ( sniff ) an' I did,” Gaby sharply answered.
“By the looks of things … we have a chance to win a prize … and they'll expect all the team to collect it,” Miss C explained.
“The deal was only to let the team participate ... nothing was said about collecting a prize ... I did my part... ( sniff ) I'm just doing what I said I would do ... an' leaving the Sherwood Foresters! ... You gonna be like all the others ... ( sniff ) an' lie to me ... an' change the rules?” By this time Jules had rejoined them.
“No ... I'm not going to break my word to you,” Miss C quietly conceded as she reached out for Gaby's hand. After a deep breath, Fran asked, “Now you be truthful ... was the quick decision today because of Maddy?”
A surprised Gaby looked over to her sister. “It's ok, Sis ... I told her how Maddy finally crossed the line when you were up in the stands.” Upon hearing Jules, Gaby nodded her head in answer to Fran's question. Miss C stood up and helped Gaby to her feet, embracing her in a deep hug once the two were facing each other.
“I'm very sorry it came to this, Gaby ... maybe Jessica and I should've sent you home long ago, when we first knew of your troubles … instead of always asking you.” Fran's quiet comment was coloured by the emotion creeping into her voice.
“I know I said I was uncomfortable … but it was my decision to stay ... if I agreed to go back … you said the Sherwood Foresters would've had to pull out ... an' I promised you I'd be there for the team … an' if I went … Jules said she would've come with me because things wouldn't feel right staying at the Walters after I left ... an' that wouldn't be fair to her,” Gaby tearfully replied as she laid her head on Fran's shoulder.
“But Gabs … if you went home … Miss C would've let the others know why you left … an' why we would've had to pull out ... give Maddy and Em something to think about!” Ally supportively piped in.
“They would've just hated me anyway … saying it was all my fault ... I would've heard about it when you got home,” Gaby solemnly replied.
“Were all the problems of the last five weeks really worth this, Sis?” Jules quietly asked as she shook her head while Gaby tightened her hold on Fran.
“Your sister's right … we can't take any ‘pot' home with us if we did win ... I'm told they have to be returned after a year for next year's competition ... so people will just have to take our word for it ... if we win anything ... no … this bloody competition's not been worth the cost you've had to pay,” Fran quietly admitted.
“Back in Mr. Wood's office, when you told me you wanted to stop cheering … I hoped you might change your mind after we got back ‘ome ... but I guess that's not to be, is it?... You're too good, Gaby ... I don't want to lose you ... won't you reconsider?” Fran softly pleaded.
“Sorry, Miss ... but my mind's made up!” Gabs firmly stated. “Even if I had no intention of leaving … I can't stay on the team with those two ... too much ‘bad blood' as Brit would say … the trust isn't there … an' you need that in a team.”
“I understand ... I don't like it … but I'll respect your decision,” Fran emotionally agreed as she and Gaby finally broke their embrace.
At that moment Bernie found them and excitedly announced, “We won! ... Miss Bell wants everyone ready to do our routine again when we accept our prize ... we're all dressed ... just waiting for you ... guys...” her voice trailing off as she noticed the solemn looks on the faces of the others.
“Ummm, Gaby? ... Why are you standing around in your underwear?” Bernie uncomfortably asked. She had a bad feeling about the answer she would hear.
“Tell Miss Bell ... that ... ( sigh ) there will be no encore performance by the Sherwood Foresters … nor any more performances of the Foresters … with Gaby ... I'll be there presently,” Miss C instructed.
Gaby had pulled on her turtleneck sweater and had her pantyhose in her hands when Bernie turned to her and with a tear in her eye, questioned what Miss C had said.
“Why Gabs?” Bernie asked, fearing the answer but knowing the reason.
“It was my decision and mine alone, Bern ... Miss C even tried to talk me out of it … but my mind is made up,” Gaby replied.
“Those two?” Bernie whispered.
“An' other things … but yeah … Mad…” Gaby quietly admitted. “Now g'wan ... Miss Bell's expecting you ... I'll see you back at school.” Before she turned to run back, Bernie gave Gaby a long emotional hug.
“Comin' Ally?” Bernie asked of her friend.
“I'll be along with Miss C!” Ally called out as Bernie disappeared out the door.
“Why did you say you'll see her back at the school … you'll see her on the bus … or you intending to walk back?” Fran inquired.
“That's for the team, Miss ...an' I'm not on the team any more ... besides … I think it would be better not be in the company of certain people right now,” Gaby pointed out. “Jules said I can ride back with her and Mrs. W.”
“Ok … but let me talk to Mrs. Walters first to see if it's okay with her,” Fran quietly allowed and then holding up the bag with the wet uniform, asked, “What do we do with your uniform?”
“Whatever you want ... I don't want it,” Gaby replied.
“I have to get out front … but we'll talk later ... ok?” Fran asked as she left the bag on the bench beside Gaby.
Once Miss C and Ally made their way out of the change room, leaving the two sisters alone, Gaby finished pulling on her pantyhose and jeans before she calmly took the bag and deposited it in the closest garbage bin.
A disbelieving Jules squealed, “What are you doing?”
“It's my uniform an' I want nothing more to do with it,” Gaby coldly stated.
After she put her boots on and retrieved her coat, the two girls walked out of the room and into the hall. As they passed the gym entrance Mrs. Walters took from the parking lot, Gaby told Jules she'd wait for her there. As Jules continued to the spectator area in search of Deb and her mother, Gaby sunk into one of the plush chairs that furnished the small lounge at the entrance.
...Meanwhile inside the gym....
“Ah, Fran ... you made it in time ... they're getting close to announcing the Foresters' class,” Jessica excitedly greeted her friend in hushed tones so as to not disturb the award ceremonies. She immediately looked around and then whispered, “Where's Gaby?”
“With Jules … I imagine,” Fran calmly replied in hushed tones.
“What's she doing with her? … She should be here, dressed and ready to repeat her performance ... That's what the other squads are doing,” Jess stated. “Didn't Bernie find you and Gaby?”
“She did... but Gaby had already decided to leave the team by then …she even soaked her uniform in the showers so she couldn't be made to put it back on,” Fran replied in a calm voice as if she was talking about the weather forecast. She was understandably a bit pre-occupied.
Maddy's head snapped around to look at Miss Cowlishaw in disbelief upon hearing her mention that Gaby had quit the Sherwood Foresters.
“What have we done? … Mad?” a very worried Em whispered.
“Shit! ... I dunno, Em ... I just dunno …“ a pale Maddy replied in a barely audible whisper.
“SHE WHAT?” Although Jessica didn't exactly shout, her question did cause more than a few eyes to focus on her. A somewhat embarrassed Jessica mouthed an apology to the judges then turned her attention to Fran.
“She did what?” Jessica hissed.
“Things came to a head following their routine and words were said between Gaby and Maddy ... I knew Gaby was intending to leave the Foresters after our return … but her break-up with Maddy accelerated her decision. Technically she's right though ... we did agree that she only needed to stay long enough to allow the squad to perform and she fulfilled her part of the agreement … so … I fulfilled mine ... and I respect her decision to leave now. As Gaby mentioned … there's too much ‘ill will' amongst some of the Foresters for her to remain any longer,” Fran quietly explained.
“I warned Maddy something like this would happen if she didn't stop!” Miss Bell hissed.
“Oh gawd! ... We're gonna be sent home fer sure,” a panicking Em mumbled under her breath.
“Dad's gonna kill me!” Maddy echoed Em's sentiments in a hushed whisper.
“You got any bright ideas for when they announce the Foresters?” Jess whispered.
“We improvise ... although there will be no repeat performance...” Fran's whisper trailed off as she became lost in thought.
“Maddy … Ally ... take off those dresses ... when we're called … Maddy ... you escort Bernie & Ally will escort Em out to accept the award ... I'll just apologize for not being able to reprise our performance as one of the girls is unable to reappear,” Miss C offered.
“Not bad!” Miss Bell congratulated her friend for her quick thinking.
“Miss? ... Do I hafta do this?” Ally asked.
“Ally?” Miss C questioned.
“I don't want this pot! ... ( sniff ) I wish we never won! ... I wish we never came here! ... ( sniff ) I want things like they were!” Fran could see the tears forming in Ally's eyes as she spoke.
“I think I know exactly how you feel, dear ... but we have to carry on … here ... dry your eyes with this ... we can't have you going out in front of the judges looking like that,” Fran gently encouraged as she knelt facing Ally.
Fran didn't try to hide her displeasure with Maddy or Em. She quickly but firmly instructed both of them to stay behind with Miss Bell while the other two would accompany her out to accept the award on behalf of the Sherwood Foresters. Maddy wanted to protest but thought better of it and for once, stayed silent.
“Under sixteen's, small group,” the announcer started to mention the class the Sherwood Foresters competed in. “Special mention, Saint Charles Speed.”
The gathered spectators gave polite applause and a few, presumably from their school, cheered.
“In third place, we have Culpeper Heat!”
Another demonstration of what Brit calls ‘school spirit', with their school giving a louder cheer than the last bunch, at the announcement.
“Second place goes to…Chesterfield Saints!”
That sparked a bigger cheer from the assembled masses.
“And in first place with a most innovative set … all the way from Notting-ham England … the Sure-wood Foresters!”
As the two girls put on brave faces and went out with Miss C, Jessica gently put a hand on a shoulder of each of the two that remained with her. In a voice that conveyed her feelings, Jessica bent down so she was looking between the two girls and sternly whispered, “We'll talk later ... back at the school.”
Maddy turned her head towards Jessica and cast a worried look, while Em closed her eyes in resignation of her fate. As if it was rehearsed, both replied as one, in quiet dejected voices.
“Yes, Miss.”
After Fran accepted the first-place award, she carried it back to Jessica, who was waiting off-court.
“Can we go change now, Miss?” Bern asked.
“Please do ... I have to find Mrs. Walters ... tell the others I'll meet them at the change room,” Fran instructed.
Jessica noted Maddy and Em wasted no time heading down the empty hall for the change room used by the team. It was a definite contrast to the aimless walk of the other two. Seeing Fran wasn't exactly jumping for joy as she started to leave to look for Mrs. W, Jess quietly asked Fran, “You alright?”
“I came this close to not accepting this ... Jess,” Fran sadly confided while showing a small gap between her thumb and forefinger. “This should've been a proud moment for us … and a highlight of the trip … but now … I'm just glad the bloody thing will be kept at AHS where I don't have to look at it ... I don't think I could face walking by it every day if it was kept on display back home.”
“Mr. Woods will ask ... you know,” Jessica pointed out.
“I know ...” Fran solemnly replied.
As Fran started towards the spectator's area, Jules approached with Mrs. Walters and Debbie in tow.
“I heard you say you wanted to talk to Mrs. W … an' thought it'd be easier if we came to you,” Jules commented when she met up with Miss C in the hall.
Following a few pleasantries and comments about the competition and the Sherwood Foresters in particular, Fran confirmed with Jocelyn that it was ok for her to take Gaby back to Grottoes. In the meantime, Jules and Deb had gone to where Gaby was waiting and brought her back to join Fran and Mrs. W. When asked why she wasn't taking the bus, Gaby gave the cryptic reply that she felt it was better that she didn't.
“Good one, Gabs ... I'd hate to be Britney about now!” Debbie hissed.
“She has nothing to do with it!” Gaby quietly protested.
“Yeah, but mom doesn't know that!” Debbie whispered.
Throwing her now-almost-empty gym bag into the back of Mrs. Walters' Sabaru Forester, Gaby got into the back seat with her sister, while Debbie sat up front with her mother. Upon exiting the university campus and making their way to the interstate, Gaby finally spoke up and cleared Brit's name of any mischief for that day.
“Mrs. W? ... In case you were wondering ... ummm ... Britney had nothing to do with this ... she doesn't even know I'm going home with you ... I guess she'll find out when they take roll call on the bus.”
Looking to Jules for strength, Gaby explained, “It's just that words were said with some of the other girls and I felt it better if I wasn't going back with them ... maybe things will have calmed down by the time we all get back.” As she leaned back in her seat beside Jules, Deb turned around and gave Gaby a reassuring smile. Jules and Gaby relaxed knowing Jocelyn wouldn't press matters now that she knew Britney wasn't involved.
(to be continued)
PB 14.05.08 © 2008
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