I kept stealing glances over by Diane's parents, where Ryan was sitting, I guessed there was no way Todd, or any of the guys, would've come to support Diane, despite how many times she had cheered them on. I had tried to talk to Ryan since Monday's debacle with Rosanna, but he wouldn't even look at me.
Anytime I tried to approach him, he walked away. He had to have heard the conversation in the cafeteria; it was all anybody had been talking about the last four days.
The junior varsity cheerleading squad took the floor. they didn't even try to display any enthusiasm for the game, like they were being punished by having to cheer for the girls' team.
"Ugh, this is painful, I could do a better job!' Tracy said as the cheerleaders anemically asked if we had spirit.
The buzzer sounded and the teams got back to the court. Diane sat patiently at the end of the bench, her knee visibly shaking with nerves.
Jen threw the ball from out-of-bounds to Britney Stewart, who was immediately fouled by a desperate member of the Springfield team. the team lined up at the free-throw line, and Britney easily scored two extra points for the team.
"Oh, come on, Coach!" Tracy screamed. "Put Diane in!"
All five Ravens players sprinted down to the other end of the court. Jen easily recovered a failed attempt from Springfield to score a basket. She grabbed the ball fiercely and began to dribble it down the court. A tall brunette player from Springfield ran up alongside her and pushed her down with a swift motion of her hips.
The whistle blew as the referees conferred.
"That so better be a technical foul," Tracy hissed. the team congregated near the bench to be briefed by Coach Ramsey. As the coach talked to the team and went over the next play, Diane looked on intently, then she bit her lip, and headed into the game. the entire Club section stood up and started cheering. Signs were hoisted, and chants of "Diane" started filling the gymnasium.
Diane's eyes narrowed as she lined up at the foul line and watched Jen miss her two free throws. Then, when the action resumed, she ran full force to Springfield's end of the court. She was squatting down and staying low as the guard from the other team approached her. Diane stayed with the guard the entire time, focused on the player's torso, a trick Ryan taught her. the ball was thrown to a tall blonde who missed the basket. Jen recovered the ball and threw it to Diane, Diane dribbled the length of the court, every ounce of her attention on the basket before her.
"Come on, Diane!" Tracy and I screamed in unison- Tracy grabbed my hand as we watched Diane approach the basket for a lay-up and.. miss.
"It's okay, Diane!" Kara screamed next to me. We all continued to clap as Springfield called another time-out.
"Can you believe them?" Tracy motioned down to the front, where the cheerleading team had decided to take a break. "they sat down the second Diane took to the court. So pathetic."
the cheerleaders were sitting on the first bench. Missy was texting someone on her phone, while the rest of them were doing everything they could to ignore the game.
"Oh, they make me so mad. A few weeks ago, all those girls were kissing Diane's ass and now they can't even cheer for the team.
it's their job!"
I nodded, annoyed at how shallow they were being.
"I've had it." Tracy stood up.
"Tracy, don't cause any — " Before I could finish my sentence, Tracy stood up on our bench, turned around to face the people behind us, and screamed at the top of her lungs, "GIVE ME A D!"
Our section quieted down as everybody stared at Tracy.
She looked exasperated. "Come on, people, I said GIVE ME A D!"
Oh my God, is Tracy, . cheerleading?
D!" Morgan, Kara, and Amy shouted.
"GIVE ME AN I!" Tracy continued.
"I" the Lonely Hearts Club started to roar. "that's more like it! GIVE ME AN At" Tracy started to clap and bounce on the balls of her feet. the cheerleaders from below turned around, mouths opened in shock as the Ravens side of the gymnasium gave Tracy an "N!"
"GIVE ME AN E!"
The gymnasium echoed with a loud "E!"
"What's that spell?" Tracy made her way down to the front of the bleachers.
"DIANE!"
She was now at the space occupied a few moments earlier by the cheerleading squad. "I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" She placed her hand up toward her ear.
DIANE! "The crowd cheered back.
The buzzer sounded and everybody was on their feet cheering.
Tracy looked over at Missy and company and gave them a little smirk, letting them know they were no longer the ones in control of the crowd.
Diane got back on the court, determination sketched on her face.
Less than fifteen seconds was left on the clock. Springfield took possession of the ball, and the guard slowly made her way down the court. Their team was going to lose, so why would they let us score any more points.
"TEN. "-the crowd started to count down with the clock.
Diane's eyes zeroed in on the approaching player.
"NINE…"
She started to shuffle back and forth.
"EIGHT…"
The guard tried to make a quick break to the left, but it was too late.
"SEVEN., Diane stole the ball and dribbled at a sprint down the court. .
"SIX. .."
.. while the entire Springfield team rushed after her. "five…"
Diane focused on the net ahead and..
'TOUR, "
. . went in for the layup.
"THREE…" the ball bounced off the rim and hit the backboard. .