Jump to new as of March 3, 2002

Chapter 1

Author's Note: This is rather inspired by the teenybopper movie "Bring It On", but please don't stop reading here just because of that. Also, please forgive the first line, I couldn't resist.

"I'm proud to announce, and I'm sure that you'll all be happy to hear, that your new captain is Emma Woodhouse," Taylor smiled brilliantly at them all as Ashton, her boyfriend, slammed on his car horn.

She rolled her eyes and gave Emma a quick hug, whispering, "Remember to call me. I'll miss you, sweetie."

Emma nodded, grinning at her tearfully, "Good luck at school."

"Thanks. Good luck with the squad."

"Thanks."

With that, Taylor ran off towards the car and Emma turned to face the cheerleading squad that she would now be taking charge of.

"Okay everyone. Try outs are next week, but right now we can figure out who will be the best stunters."

"Ambitious, aren't we Emma." muttered Geoff Knightley from behind her.

"Well," she said turning around to smirk at him, "If we down know who is the best in what spot, then how are we ever going to get our new routines down?"

"New routines?" asked Lindsey Bennet, one of the sophomores, in outrage.

"Of course! Competitions are like the Oscars. You can't be seen in the same dress."

"So... we're getting new uniforms too?" asked Stacy, another of the sophomores.

Geoff smiled at her. She wanted to hit him when he looked at her like that. It was the obnoxious,Look what you've gotten yourself into now. I have to save you again, look. This look originated in first grade when Emma had accidentally over-fed the class goldfish, and Geoff had taken the blame and brought in Mr. Fluffy, the class guinea pig, which Emma had later lost over spring vacation. She didn't do well with pets.

"No. Not new uniforms. Dress is to Routine and Oscars is to Competition." Geoff tried to explain.

Stacy blinked. "So... we aren't getting new uniforms?"

"No. We aren't getting new uniforms," Emma said a bit exasperatedly.

Seconds later, Emma felt hands around her waist, starting to lift her.

"Jay and Chris, you spot," Geoff instructed.

There were four boys on the squad, Geoff Knightley, Chris Church, Jay Elton, and Rob Martinez. Rob and Geoff were presently lifting her much higher in the air than she though that she was really prepared to be. She had instinctively gone along with this, not kicking Geoff on the way up, as falling would have resulted.

"Basket toss?" Geoff called looking up. She was suddenly glad that they weren't wearing their uniforms. She hated that it was so simple for them to see directly up her skirt.

"Go for it."

Down, two... three...UP. Emma sprang further up, straddling in mid air and then returning to a more sitting like position just before being caught by Geoff and Rob.

"You didn't go very high, Em. Maybe you should loose a few." Geoff smirked.

Emma smacked him hard in the side of the head.

"That was great Emma. Don't listen to him." said Chris.

She gave Geoff a triumphant look and then smiled. "Who's next?"

"You know why she got it, right?"

"Of course, I mean.... it's kind of obvious. She's totally slept with all four of them... and then there's the fact that she was Taylor's very favourite."

"Did you vote for her?"

"No, of course not. Did you?"

"No. No...."

All this was said in very fast whispers. Emma grinned at Melissa and Jenny as she turned the corner, her towel wrapped rightly around her.

"Emma! Congratulations!!" cried Melissa.

"Oh, I'm so happy for you Em!" joined Jenny.

Emma, who had long mastered the art of locker room changing, smiled awkwardly as she fastened her bra, trying not to loose the towel.

"Thanks," she said, and then, after pulling a clean tee shirt on, added, "And I was Taylor's favourite, but I didn't sleep with any of them. I don't screw for votes."

She fasted the back of her skirt, slid on her platform flip-flops, and gave them a pointed glare before walking out.

2: Oooh! New Cheerleaders!

Emma's notes from the try-outs looked something like this:

Kiki, good at yelling, fair gymnastics. ****

Hallie, quiet, fair gymnastics, slightly off in coordination may be set down from Melissa's nasty commenting on hair. Melissa= wretched slut. ****

Aaron, definitely "controversial". will not be looking up skirts. Good gymnastics and yelling. *****

Lily, excellent gymnastics and yelling, transferred from Mansfield. *****

Mary, missed some words, fell over, but when up, good. ***

Sarah, good yeller, scary. can't tumble **

Angela, good yeller. objects to bloomers. *

Tom, only wants to look up girls skirts. Good yeller. strong enough. Will put him with Jenny and Melissa ****

These were the most interesting of the trials from that day. Emma had gone immediately to her locker afterwards and taken four Advil to reduce the pain of the tiny percussionist who had taken up residence in her head and begun using her temples as his drums of choice.

When she returned to the gym Geoff was sitting on a stack of mats waiting for her. Emma hoisted herself onto the mats and leaned her head onto his shoulder. Her took the notebook out of her hand and read interestedly.

"You're kidding, aren't you?" He asked with a look of amusement and surprise on his face.

"What about?"

"About Hallie. Try three stars."

"No! She'll be great on the squad. Besides, I'm looking at potential, not just the try-out."

"You're doing this to spite Melissa."

"I am not. But she is a horrible slut."

Geoff looked at her sternly, "Emmmma. While I don't deny that, it's no reason to put the squads chances at competition in jeopardy."

"She's going to be fine. She just needs work, and I'll work with her. You know that all it takes is practice and some confidence."

"It's your call... but you know what's going to happen if you've made a mistake."

"You're right. It is my call." She smiled brightly at him, an expression he didn't return.

After a moment of slightly frowning thought, he slowly allowed the corner of his lips to curve up in a smile and tugged her sleek blonde ponytail.

"Hey!" she snapped good-naturedly. "Come on. I'll let you give me a ride home."

"Gee, really? Where's your car?" he quirked an eyebrow.

"Um, Daddy took the keys for a week because I stayed out a teenie bit past curfew last weekend when Chris and I went out."

"How late?"

"Um... two," she blushed.

"EMMA!" He cried. Why did he insist on being her big sister. Really, he was only seven months older than she was. "What on Earth were you thinking?"

"At the time?"

"Of course."

"Um.... I was thinking that it's bad manners to stop kissing someone to tell them to take you home," she smiled weakly and slid off the mats.

"How very like you," he replied standing as well.

"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked putting her hands on her hips.

"Maybe it means that Melissa isn't the only one who puts the "whore" in "horrifying"."

With that, he took off in a sprint towards the gym doors, Emma following closely, tackling him on the muddy courtyard grass leading to the parking lot.

"Take that!" she cried gleefully.

"Take this," he replied, rolling her over into the grass next to him.

Emma shrieked and then began to giggle uncontrollably. This was just how it was when they were little. The sky cleared up and they went out to play in the mud. And somehow, they always became filthy and ended up staring at the clouds.

"Look!!" she said, excitedly. "That cloud looks just like a bunny!"

So it did.

"Emma, you are forever impossible to stay annoyed with."

"And Geoff, I will forever be testing that theory." She winked at him and pulled herself up, walking towards his car.

He followed suit, a bewildered smile across his face.

Chapter Three - Tradition's A Killer

"You know what would kill them?" Emma said thoughtfully after a particularly tough practice.

"Poisoning their Evian?" suggested Geoff.

"Not a bad idea, but I was thinking," she began with a wicked grin spreading over her lips.

"Always a dangerous habit for you," he said, cutting her off.

"Shut up. I was thinking, what if we used all punk rock for our competition music?"

"Have you lost your mind?" he asked before taking a sip from his own Evian.

"No! It's fun! and it's mostly up tempo enough for us to stunt and tumble to."

"Hmm... You'll get a war."

"And we'll get National title."

"You make an interesting point."

"As always," she said with another sly grin.

Emma stood up with a sudden burst of energy. "I'm going for a run. Do you want to come?"

Geoff sat up on the edge of the mats. "You've lost your mind. How far are you running?"

"Probably a few miles," she said confidently.

"Pass. Are you just going to run home then?"

"Good plan, as I haven't got my car yet."

"Why don't I just give you a ride home?" Geoff asked, knowing that Emma's run would become a bad idea about half way to her home.

"Cause... erm... someone told Chris that I wad rolling around in the mud with you the other day, and he took it the wrong way. Can you imagine?"

"Not at all." He said, with a mild shudder. "It'd be like.....with my sister."

She took the full meaning of that one. "Go take a cold shower. I'll call you later."

"You wish I'd take a cold shower over you!" he whooped.

"You wish you could roll someone as hot as me in the mud!" she called back, jogging out of the gym.

Geoff sat in the gym on the stack of mats. He leaned his head against the wall and pushed some of his dark hair off of his sweaty forehead. He scanned the now empty gym wondering how it was that he and Emma were as close as they were.

She was a flaky, spoiled brat. Well... maybe not flaky, she actually did have some wit to her. Fine. She could have him tongue-tied in five minutes flat. And, as much as he'd never admit it to her, she really had become pretty good-looking.

And careless. Geoff picked up her gymbag and his own and walked towards the gym door. As he pulled the handle, a flustered looking Emma stood before him with a surprised expression across her face.

"Geoff," she asked sweetly, "Can you give me a ride home?"

"Hey Em! How's everything going?! How're the new kids doing? How is the routine coming? How are you!!?"

"Taylor! I love you, now can I have a word in edgewise?"

Emma shifted the phone on her shoulder and leaned against the wall next to her bed. "Sure, sorry hun. Go on," said Taylor's voice in cheerful apology.

"Well... Everything's fine. The new cheerleaders are great, this girl Lily just moved here and she used to go to Mansfield, but she transferred to Hartfield and she's amazing, and there are two new boys, one of them has been staring up Melissa and Jenny's gym shorts at any opportunity. Melissa really should revert to wearing panties." Taylor laughed, "OH! And there is this adorable new girl named Hallie! She's a little quiet, and a little hesitant, but once she puts in some hard work, she'll be fantastic, but you should hear Geoff! He acts like she's totally hopeless, just because she's a little afraid of heights."

"You don't have someone who's acrophobic topping, do you?"

"Well... yes, but she'll be great!"

"How quiet is a little quiet?"

"What kind of question is that? She's just... working on it." said Emma, defensively.

BEEP

"Hang on, another call," said Emma.

"Hello?"

"Emma, have you lost your mind? Punk rock!? How are we supposed to cheer to that? Honestly, I call Geoff to ask for a ride to the game and I hear that you are going to use senseless noise pollution for our major competition routine!"

"Hi Melissa. It's always nice to hear from a friendly voice. Now I have to go, so I may continue speaking with one. See you at practice! Buh-bye."

click.

"Tay?"

"Still here. Punk music, Em?"

"What is there, a press release out? Melissa just called to complain about it."

"Well... It's a great idea!" Taylor began with what seemed like reluctant enthusiasm, "But.. traditionally we've gone with something more... sporty."

Chapter 4

Posted on Tuesday, 1 May 2001

Emma bit her lip and crossed her fingers, almost dropping her portable stereo in the process. She set it down by the outlet where Melissa had hers plugged in and blasting.

"So Miss," she called through the irritating barking, "who did let the dogs out?"

"Very funny, Emma. So, where are you're leather and spikes?"

"Pardon?" Emma said, knowing perfectly well that retaliation to the crack would only give Melissa more power. Instead, Emma pulled the plug directly from the wall and plugged in her own CD player, which began blaring high energy rock music.

Choreography instantly began running though her hear, and apparently several other members of the squads as well.

Aaron, Jay, Stacy, Elen (a Junior), and Hillary (a Freshman) were all jigging in various parts of the gym. Lily, Hallie, Rob and Kiki were working together on tumbling combinations.

Chris, Melissa, Lindsey and Jenny were standing in a doubtful-looking group in a corner of the gym. Jenny, was absently swaying along with the music, but clearly she was supposed to disapprove of it.

Geoff stood silently at the door frame watching the entire scene. Emma's dancing eyes locked with his serious ones, only to be torn away by--

"Hallie! Watch it!" Rob yelled.

Smack! Crrrack. "OH MY--" in here was a word that people don't usually say to their gods," GOD!"

Jenny was curled tightly on the floor looking as though she was in excruciating pain. Hallie was curled tightly clutching her arm, and had been lying there mutely.

Emma ran to them as fast as she could. Jenny sprang to her feet.

"Nice one, perma-blonde," she snapped coldly at Hallie.

"Emma, my arm made a really gross noise," said Hallie in a shaky voice.

"Rob, get the nurse now!" Emma ordered as Geoff returned to the gym with a squat, stern-looking older woman called Nurse Granger.

"What happened here?" she asked in a demanding voice.

"She was doing a set of handsprings and she tried to swerve out of the way before she hit Jenny... and her arm snapped when she hit the ground," Rob explained fretfully.

"Can you get up, dear?" asked Nurse Granger, kneeling next to Hallie.

Hallie managed to sit up and Rob leaned down to ease her up on the arm that hadn't snapped. Geoff stood nearby with a wheelchair that was now unfolded and prepared to take Hallie to the infirmary.

Nurse Granger stood again, "I suggest that you all take a break for the rest of the day and meet on Monday. Miss Woodhouse, and Mr. Knightley, if you would please come with me."

They nodded mutely and followed. Emma felt a gnawing at her stomach. It was the awful feeling that Geoff may have been right, and the still worse feeling that Hallie had broken her arm.

"Miss Woodhouse," said Ms. Granger in a calming voice, "I know that you are probably feeling as though this is your responsibility. As far as I know, you aren't at all to blame. Please make certain that your squad is a bit more careful about where they choose to stand. When the ambulance gets here to take Miss Smith to the hospital, please let them know what has happened."

She nodded and walked outside. Geoff had followed shortly behind her.

"It isn't your fault," he said.

"Don't lie."

"It's not... and when this is all over, you can come over and I'll make you lunch. You're favourite."

Emma smiled weakly.

"I don't believe you are seventeen years old... and peanut butter and jelly can still make you smile when something bad has happened," Geoff said shaking his head.

Chapter 5: Furtherment of plot... and Peanut Butter and Jelly

this chapter is dedicated to Annie.

"Can I have peanut butter and strawberry jelly on toasted French bread please?"

Geoff's idea of "making lunch" was going to the corner deli. Emma sat in his car looking like she'd witnessed someone kicking a puppy. He shot her a smile from the store window, held up two bottles of lemonade and looked back to the counter.

"Your PB and J, sir. That'll be eight dollars with the lemonade."

Most people would be outraged at the prospect of a six dollar peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but then most people don't get their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from delicatessens either. Geoff paid and returned to his vehicle.

"You have the pet look on your face, you know."

"She broke her arm."

"She's alive."

"In two places."

"At least she hit Jenny?"

Emma paused.

When they reached the Knightley's home, they took their lunch directly to the back yard and sat under their tree. When they were 5, they'd gotten married under that tree, and when Emma tried to kiss him, Geoff ran inside and locked himself in his closet. Innumerable picnics, and tea parties had been held under that tree. Once, Geoff had actually fallen out of the tree and Emma'd had to call her father next door because it was the first time they'd been allowed to stay home alone when they were twelve. Both of them had received their first kisses under that tree, although not with one another. It was a very important tree in the Knightley and Woodhouse families relationships.

"What if neither of them can compete? We'll be completely screwed."

"You only started work on the routine yesterday, Em."

"Ha. I started work on it three weeks ago. Just not with actual people."

"You make me nervous sometimes. Is that why you were so insistent on Hallie? Because she fit your vision?"

Emma sighed.

"You're hopeless, you know. And it seems to me that you were only using the poor girl so that you could end the year with a success story of how you taught hopeless little Hallie how to be a cheerleader."

"What a horrible thing to say! I thought she could do the routine, Geoff. That's why I chose her."

"Of course it is..." said Geoff in an unquestionably sarcastic tone.

"Well it doesn't really matter now either way, because she's out. Are you happy about that? I'm certainly not, because who knows if Jenny is going to be back either. I'm so glad that you're taking your time accusing me of self-promotion instead of worrying about whether or not we're even going to get to nationals this year."

"Fine. New subject. Are you going to winter formal?"

"Of course. You?"

"I have to. Student counsel is required."

"What is your big issue with dances?"

"Besides the fact that I hate dancing, the music they play, the food they serve, and wearing a tie?"

"So... skip the tie. C'est tres chique... and bring a walkman and pb and j. That way, you have all your bases covered, and all you have to do it sit."

"Fabulous."

"Who are you going with?"

"Stag. You?"

"Chris."

"How silly of me. I forgot about your 'relationship'."

"What is up with you today?? Yeah. He's not my boyfriend. So what, we're dating."

"Heh. You're friends with benefits. It's total nonsense he should ask you out or not, and that's that... not this 'fooling around' crap you two seem to can't get enough of."

"Knock it off. Hey... who do you suppose Jay is going with?"

"Why? You're going with Chris, remember?"

"Shut up. Don't you think he and Hallie should go together?"

Geoff looked at the sky in mild exasperation.

"Hey, that cloud looks like a bunny," he said.

So it did.