"Martin, Ann M - BSC070 - Stacey And The Cheerleaders" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin Ann M)

Claudia shrugged. "I read it somewhere. Something to do with, like, hormones or biospheres."
"Biospheres?" Kristy laughed so hard she practically spit out her food.
As I was reaching the bottom of my salad, I saw Sheila enter the cafeteria. "Hey, Sheil!" I called out.
She rushed to our table. "How's it going?" she asked.
Kristy, Mary Anne, and Claudia remained dead silent. I decided to do the only polite thing. "Have you guys all met?" I asked.
They hadn't, so I introduced everyone around. Then Sheila sat at the edge of an empty seat across from me. "Did you see our sign?"
"I did," Claudia piped up.
"Are any of you trying out?" Sheila said.
I could see a Look shoot around among the three of them. A you-must-be-joking Look. "I don't think so," Mary Anne answered.
"I am," I announced.
Kristy looked at me as if I'd lost my mind. But I figured, what the heck? Now that I'd made my decision, I didn't need to keep it quiet anymore.
"Great!" Sheila exclaimed, standing up from her chair. "I knew you would! Do you have a routine?"
"A routine?" I asked. "Am I supposed to have one beforehand?"
"You need one if you make it to the final cut. You know, something that's athletic but shows your dance ability, too. A lot of girls are great at splits and stuff, but they turn into clods when they try to dance. I'm sure you'll be fine. See you." She began walking to the lunch line, then turned around. "Oh, and don't forget to smile when you practice. It's good training." With her own smile, she walked away.
" 'Bye!" I called out.
I looked across the table and came face to face with the Stoneybrook Staring Squad.
I couldn't help but giggle. "What?" I said.
"You're trying out for the cheerleaders?" Kristy asked.
"Well, yeah! Is there anything wrong with that?"
"Kristy, it's not like she's joining the Marines," Claudia said. "Come on."
Kristy turned to Claudia. "I know, but I'm surprised, that's all. I mean, aren't you?"
"I guess." Claudia looked suddenly thoughtful. "Maybe Stacey's having an insulin reaction. Keep an eye on her."
"Claudia!" I said.
"Kidding!" Claudia replied with a grin. "Seriously, if that's what you want to do, it's your choice."
"I know it may sound weird," I said, "but a group of them actually approached me to tell me about the tryouts. They're really nice, you know. People have the wrong impression, just because they sit together and act like a clique. We sit together, and we're not so bad."
"Yeah," Kristy agreed. "But cheerleading is so ... I don't know."
"Dumb?" I supplied.
Kristy shrugged. "I wasn't going to say it, but Ч "
"Well, at first I thought it was a dumb idea, but it kind of grew on me. The cheerleaders do make the basketball games more exciting."
"That's true/' Kristy replied.
"I think it's great," Mary Anne spoke up. "I can picture you out there doing those cheers."
"Yeah, with a designer cheerleading uniform from Bloomingdale's/' Claudia added.
We laughed at that.
"Can you do it and stay in the BSC?" Kristy asked.
"Practice ends at five," I said.
Kristy let out a huge sigh. "Well, in that case, shake those pom-poms, Stace!"
"What are you going to do about a routine?" Mary Anne asked.
"I don't know," I replied. "I guess I could make up a dance combination Ч "
"Ask Jessi to help you," Claudia suggested. "She'd be a great choreographer."
It was a perfect idea. And you know what? I really wanted to get the BSC involved. Maybe The Group was too cool for sleepovers, and maybe the members of the BSC were too cool for cheerleading, but they were all my friends. And who knew? Maybe they'd learn to like each other.
After lunch I saw Penny, Margie, and Cor-inne in the hallway. I ran to them to tell them about my decision.
Before I could open my mouth, Penny said,
"I heard you're faying out. That's fabulous."
"Yeah," I replied. "But I am so nervous. I've never done anything like this."
"Oh, don't worry," Margie said. "I was nervous, too. The best thing to do is just relax."
I nodded. "Uh-huh. Well, what's it going to be like? Do I just walk in and do my routine? Should I memorize one of your cheers?"
"No," Penny answered. "We'll teach everyone a cheer, very slowly. All the basic moves will be in it, so we'll be able to tell two things Ч how you learn, and whether or not you have the stretch and the energy and the coordination, stuff like that. If you survive the cut, you get to do the routine. We'll provide a boom box, but bring your own cassette."
"Have you started preparing a routine?" Corinne asked.
"I'm going to ask Jessi Ramsey to choreograph one with me," I replied. "She is an amazing dancer."
Corinne looked at the others. I could see the trace of a smile on her face.